Devices and methods for treating accidental bowel leakage

ABSTRACT

Described here are body liners and methods for treating accidental bowel leakage using one or more body liners. The body liners may be formed from one or more liner layers and in some instances may comprise one or more adhesive regions to connect the body liners to the skin of a wearer. The body liners may be configured to absorb fluid, and may selectively distribute fluid relative to the body liner.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a Continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/754,787, filed Jan. 30, 2013 and titled “DEVICESAND METHODS FOR TREATING ACCIDENTAL BOWEL LEAKAGE,” which claimspriority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/593,052,filed Jan. 31, 2012 and titled “ABL FLUSHABLE WIPE/BODY LINER”, to U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/649,749, filed on May 21,2012 and titled “BODY LINER FOR ANAL LEAKAGE”. U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/754,787 is also a continuation-in-part of U.S. Design patentapplication Ser. No. 29/422,461, filed May 21, 2012 and titled “BODYLINER FOR ANAL LEAKAGE”, and a continuation-in-part of U.S. Designpatent application Ser. No. 29/437,530, filed Nov. 16, 2012 and titled“BODY LINER FOR ANAL LEAKAGE”. The contents of each of theseapplications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

Described here are body liners and methods for treating fecalincontinence.

BACKGROUND

Accidental bowel leakage (ABL), also known as fecal incontinence, is awidespread, debilitating condition, affecting millions worldwide. ABL istypically characterized by small amounts (typically about 1 ml or less)of viscoelastic bowel discharge including feces orotherwise-contaminated moisture, which may travel away from the anus tosoil the gluteal cleft and potentially the sufferer's garments. Asopposed to defecation (which occurs when the anus is opened by the analsphincter muscles), the discharge associated with ABL may occur evenwhen the sphincter muscles are clenched. ABL is often unpredictable, andhas a significant impact on the quality of life for affectedindividuals. People at risk for ABL include, but are not limited to,mature persons with chronic bowel disturbances (e.g., diarrhea and IBS),who smoke, are obese, have neurological disorders (e.g., resulting fromdiabetes, MS, or spine and/or rectal injuries), or have undergonecholecystectomy, lower spine and/or rectal zone surgeries, women whohave given birth, and men who have had prostrate treatment.

Current incontinence pads and devices do not provide an adequatesolution for those suffering from ABL. Invasive approaches, includingostomy collectors, valves, plugs, and injectable gels can be intrusive,carry health risks, and may be excessive for instances of mild ormoderate bowel leakage, where relatively small amounts of discharge(e.g., about 1 ml or less) is released. Traditional incontinence padsand diapers can be bulky, conspicuous, and embarrassing, and may notprevent fecal matter from exiting the intergluteal cleft. This mayrequire additional cleanup, and may contribute to feelings ofuncleanliness. Further, the bulk may make discreetly carryingreplacements more difficult. A lack of satisfactory solutions may driveABL sufferers to attempt makeshift solutions (e.g., wads of toilet paperplaced in the intergluteal cleft, which are easily displaced duringmovement), or to avoid an active lifestyle altogether. Accordingly, itis desirable to provide discreet, non-invasive treatment devices forpeople suffering from ABL.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Described here are devices and methods for treating fecal incontinence.Generally, the devices described here comprise a body liner sized andconfigured to be placed at least partially within the interglutealcleft. The body liner generally comprises at least one body liner layerand is configured to absorb fluid from a load of ABL. In somevariations, the body liner has a body-facing surface and a rear surfaceopposite the body-facing surface, wherein the body liner is formed froma plurality of liner layers and comprises at least one adhesive regionon the body-facing surface of the body liner. The plurality of linerlayers may comprise a top sheet, a back sheet, and a core member, andeach of the plurality of liner layers may be liquid absorbent. In someof these variations, the top sheet may form the body-facing surface ofthe body liner and the back sheet may form the rear surface of the bodyliner. The body-facing surface may have a higher coefficient of frictionthan a coefficient of friction of the rear surface. In other variationsthe body-facing surface may have a coefficient of friction less thanthat of the rear surface, or equal to that of the rear surface. In somevariations, the coefficient of friction of the rear surface may be lessthan 0.15. In some of these variations, the coefficient of friction ofthe front surface is greater than 0.25.

In some variations when the body liner comprises a top sheet, a backsheet, and a core member, the core member may be positioned between thetop sheet and the back sheet. The core member may be any suitable shape,such as, for example, circular or oval. The body liner may have anysuitable shape, such as, for example, a butterfly shape, a rectangularshape, an oval shape, or the like. In some variations, the body linermay have a longitudinal axis, and the top sheet may have a shapecomprising a first lobe on a first side of the longitudinal axis and asecond lobe on a second side of the longitudinal axis. In some of thesevariations, the shape of the top sheet may further comprise a third lobeon the first side of the longitudinal axis and a fourth lobe on thesecond side of the longitudinal axis. In some of these variations, theback sheet may have a shape that is the same as the shape of the topsheet.

In some variations where the body liner comprises a top sheet and a backsheet, the back sheet and the top sheet may be at least partially bondedtogether. In some of these variations, the back sheet and top sheet maybe bonded together around a periphery of the top sheet. In some of thesevariations, the back sheet and top sheet may be bonded together suchthat at least 80 percent of the top sheet remains unbonded. In some ofthese variations, the back sheet and top sheet may be bonded togethersuch that at least 90 percent of the top sheet remains unbonded. In somevariations the body liner may be configured to be flushable. In some ofthese variations, at least 90 percent of the body liner may be formedfrom one or more biodegradable materials.

In variations where the body liner comprises a top sheet, the top sheetmay be configured to move fluid within the top sheet at a first wickingrate in a first direction, a second wicking rate in a second direction,and a third wicking rate in a third direction, wherein first and seconddirections are within a plane of the body liner, the first direction isperpendicular to the second direction, and the third direction isperpendicular to the plane of the body liner. In some of thesevariations, the top sheet may be configured such that the third wickingrate in the top sheet is greater than the first and second wicking ratesin the top sheet. In some of these variations, the top sheet may beconfigured such that the first wicking rate in the top sheet is greaterthan the second wicking rate in the top sheet. In some of thesevariations, the body liner has a longitudinal axis along which the bodyliner may be folded when placed at least partially in the interglutealcleft, and the first direction may be parallel to the longitudinal axis.In others of these variations, the body liner has a longitudinal axisalong which the body liner is folded when placed at least partially inthe intergluteal cleft, and the second direction may parallel to thelongitudinal axis.

In variations where the body liner comprises a back sheet, the backsheet may be configured to move fluid within the back sheet at a firstwicking rate in the first direction, a second wicking rate in the seconddirection, and a third wicking rate in the third direction, wherein thethird wicking rate in the back sheet may be greater than the firstwicking rate in back sheet and greater than the second wicking rate inthe back sheet. In some of these variations, the third wicking rate inthe back sheet may be the same as the third wicking rate in the topsheet. In others of these variations, the first wicking rate in the backsheet may be greater than the second wicking rate in the back sheet. Insome of these variations, the first wicking rate in the top sheet may begreater than the second wicking rate in the top sheet.

In other variations of the devices described here, the devices maycomprise a body liner sized and configured to be placed at leastpartially within the intergluteal cleft and having a body-facing surfaceand a rear surface opposite the body-facing surface, wherein the bodyliner is formed from at least one liner layer, wherein the body-facingsurface has a coefficient of friction and the rear surface has acoefficient of friction. In some of these variations, the coefficient offriction of the body-facing surface is greater than the coefficient offriction of the rear surface. In others of these variations, thecoefficient of friction of rear surface may be greater than thecoefficient of friction of the body-facing surface. In yet othervariations, the body-facing surface and rear surface may have equalcoefficient of frictions. The body-facing and rear facing surfaces mayhave any suitable coefficients of friction. In some variations, thecoefficient of friction of the body-facing surface may be greater than0.25. In some of these variations, the coefficient of friction of thebody-facing surface may be greater than 0.3. In some variations, thecoefficient of friction of the rear surface may be less than 0.15. Insome variations, the coefficient of friction of the rear surface may beless than 0.1. The body liner may, in some variations, comprise at leastone adhesive region on the body-facing surface of the body liner.

When the body liner is formed from at least one liner layer, one or moreportions of the body liner may be configured to be fluid absorbent. Insome variations, each liner layer of the at least one liner layer may befluid absorbent. In some variations, the at least one liner layer maycomprise a top sheet and a core member, and one or both of the top sheetand core member may be fluid absorbent. In some of these variations, atleast one liner layer further may comprise a back sheet, which in somevariations may be positioned between the top sheet and the back sheet.The back sheet may also be fluid absorbent.

In some instances when the body liner is configured to absorb fluid, thebody liner may be further configured to move fluid within the body linerat a first wicking rate in a first direction, a second wicking rate in asecond direction, and a third wicking rate in a third direction, whereinthe first and second directions are within a plane of the body liner,the first direction is perpendicular to the second direction, and thethird direction is perpendicular to the plane of the body liner. In someof these variations, the third wicking rate in the body liner may begreater than the first wicking rate in the body liner and may be greaterthan the second wicking rate in the body liner. In some of thesevariations, the first wicking rate in the body liner may be greater thanthe second wicking rate in the body liner. In some of these variations,the body liner has a longitudinal axis along which the body liner may befolded when placed at least partially within the intergluteal cleft, andwherein the second direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis. Inothers of these variations, the body liner has a longitudinal axis alongwhich the body liner may be folded when placed at least partially withinthe intergluteal cleft, wherein the first direction is parallel to thelongitudinal axis. In some variations, the first wicking rate in thebody liner may be greater than the second wicking rate in the bodyliner.

As mentioned above, the body liner may have any suitable shape. Forexample, in some variations, the body liner has a longitudinal axisalong which the body liner may be folded when placed at least partiallywithin the intergluteal cleft, and wherein the body liner may have ashape comprising a first lobe on a first side of the longitudinal axisand a second lobe on a second side of the longitudinal axis. In some ofthese variations, the shape of the body liner may further comprise athird lobe on the first side of the longitudinal axis and a fourth lobeon the second side of the longitudinal axis. In some variations, therear surface of the body liner may be configured to have a reducedcoefficient of friction (e.g., may be polished, may comprise one or morefriction-reducing coatings, combinations thereof and the like). In othervariations, the body-facing surface of the body liner may be configuredto enhance the coefficient of friction of the body-facing surface (e.g.,the body-facing surface may be textured or roughened, or the like). Insome variations, the body liner may be configured to be flushable. Insome variations, each liner layer of the at least one liner layer may beformed from one or more cellulosic materials.

In still other variations of the devices described here, the devices maycomprise a body liner sized and configured to be placed at leastpartially within the intergluteal cleft, the body liner having alongitudinal axis along which the body may be folded when placed atleast partially with the intergluteal cleft, a body-facing surface, anda rear surface opposite the body-facing surface, wherein the body lineris formed from at least one liner layer, wherein the body liner may beconfigured to move fluid within the body liner at a first wicking ratein a first direction, a second wicking rate in a second direction, and athird wicking rate in a third direction, wherein first and seconddirections are within a plane of the body liner, the first direction isperpendicular to the second direction, and the third direction isperpendicular to the plane of the body liner, and wherein the thirdwicking rate in the body liner is greater than the first wicking rate inthe body liner and is greater than the second wicking rate in the bodyliner. In some of these variations, the first wicking rate in the bodyliner may be greater than the second wicking rate in the body liner. Insome of these variations, the first direction may be parallel to thelongitudinal axis. In others of these variations, the second directionmay be parallel to the longitudinal axis.

In some variations the body liner may be configured such that whenfolded along the longitudinal axis, fluid applied to a portion of thebody-facing surface on a first side of the longitudinal axis istransferred in the third direction to the a portion of the rear surfaceon the first side of the longitudinal axis, and may be furthertransferred to a portion of the rear surface on a second side of thelongitudinal axis. In some variations, the body liner may comprise atleast one adhesive region on the body-facing surface of the body liner.In some variations, each liner layer of the at least one liner layer maybe fluid absorbent. The at least one liner layer may comprise a topsheet and a core member. In some of these variations, at least one linerlayer may further comprise a back sheet. In some of these variations,the core member may be positioned between the top sheet and the backsheet. In some variations, the body-facing surface may have acoefficient of friction greater than a coefficient of friction of therear surface.

In still other variations of the devices described here, a device maycomprise a body liner sized and configured to be placed at leastpartially within the intergluteal cleft, the body liner having alongitudinal axis along which the body liner may be folded when placedat least partially with the intergluteal cleft, a body-facing surface,and a rear surface opposite the body-facing surface, wherein the bodyliner may be formed from at least one liner layer, wherein the bodyliner may be configured to move fluid within the body liner at a firstwicking rate in a first direction, a second wicking rate in a seconddirection, and a third wicking rate in a third direction, wherein firstand second directions are within a plane of the body liner, the firstdirection is perpendicular to the second direction, and the thirddirection is perpendicular to the plane of the body liner, and whereinthe second wicking rate in the body liner is greater than the firstwicking rate in the body liner. In some of these variations, the thirdwicking rate in the body liner is greater than the second wicking ratein the body liner. In others of these variations, the first direction isparallel to the longitudinal axis. In still others of these variations,the second direction is parallel to the longitudinal axis.

In some variations, the body liner may be configured such that whenfolded along the longitudinal axis, fluid applied to a portion of thebody-facing surface on a first side of the longitudinal axis may betransferred in the third direction to the a portion of the rear surfaceon the first side of the longitudinal axis, and may be furthertransferred to a portion of the rear surface on a second side of thelongitudinal axis. The body liner comprises at least one adhesive regionon the body-facing surface of the body liner. In some variations, eachliner layer of the at least one liner layer is fluid absorbent. The atleast one liner layer may comprise a top sheet and a core member. Insome of these variations, the at least one liner layer may furthercomprise a back sheet. In some of these variations, the core member maybe positioned between the top sheet and the back sheet. In someinstances, the body-facing surface may have a coefficient of frictiongreater than a coefficient of friction of the rear surface.

In yet other variations of the devices described here, the devices maycomprise a body liner sized and configured to be placed at leastpartially within the intergluteal cleft, the body liner having alongitudinal axis along which the body is folded when placed at leastpartially with the intergluteal cleft, a latitudinal axis perpendicularto the longitudinal axis and intersecting the longitudinal axis at atarget point, a body-facing surface, and a rear surface opposite thebody-facing surface, wherein the body liner is formed from at least oneliner layer, wherein the body liner has a shape comprising a first lobe,a second lobe, a third lobe, and a fourth lobe, wherein the first andsecond lobes are positioned on a first side of the longitudinal axis andthe third and fourth lobes are positioned on a second side of alongitudinal axis. In some variations, the first and third lobes may bepositioned on a first side of the latitudinal axis, and the second andfourth lobes may be positioned on a second side of the latitudinal axis.In some of these variations, a height of the first lobe along thelongitudinal axis may be greater than a height of the second lobe alongthe longitudinal axis. In others of these variations, a height of thethird lobe along the longitudinal axis may be greater than a height ofthe fourth lobe along the longitudinal axis.

In some variations, each liner layer of the at least one liner layer maybe fluid absorbent. In some variations, the at least one liner layer maycomprises a top sheet and a core member. In some of these variations,the core member may have a circular or oval shape, and the shape of thetop sheet may be the same shape as the body liner. In some variations,the core member may have a shape that is the same as the overall shapeof the body liner except that it is a smaller size. In some of thesevariations, the at least one liner layer further comprises a back sheet.In some of these variations, the core member may be positioned betweenthe back sheet and the top sheet. In some of these variations, the backsheet and the top sheet may be at least partially bonded together. Insome of these variations, the back sheet and top sheet may be bondedtogether around a periphery of the top sheet. In some of thesevariations, the back sheet and top sheet may bonded together such thatat least 80 percent of the top sheet remains unbonded.

In some variations, the body-facing surface may have a highercoefficient of friction than a coefficient of friction of the rearsurface. In some variations, the body liner may be configured to beflushable. In some variations the body liner may comprise at least oneadhesive region on the skin-facing surface. In some variations thedevices may further comprise a release liner removably attached to thebody liner. In some variations, the body liner may be configured to movefluid within the body at a first wicking rate in a first direction, asecond wicking rate in a second direction, and a third wicking rate in athird direction, wherein first and second directions are within a planeof the body liner, the first direction is perpendicular to the seconddirection, and the third direction is perpendicular to the plane of thebody liner. In some of these variations, the body liner may beconfigured such that the third wicking rate in the body liner is greaterthan the first and second wicking rates in the body liner. In othervariations, the body liner may be configured such that the first wickingrate in the body liner is greater than the second wicking rate in thebody liner.

In still other variations of the devices described here, the devices maycomprise a flushable body liner sized and configured to be placed atleast partially within the intergluteal cleft and having a longitudinalaxis, a body-facing surface and a rear surface opposite the body-facingsurface, and at least one adhesive region on the body-facing surface ofthe body liner. In some of these variations, the at least one adhesiveregion may comprise a first adhesive region on a first side of thelongitudinal axis and a second adhesive region on a second side of thelongitudinal axis. The body liner may comprise a first adhesive zone onthe body-facing surface on a first side of the longitudinal axis and asecond adhesive zone on the body-facing surface on a second side of thelongitudinal axis, wherein the body liner does not include adhesiveregions outside of the first and second adhesive zones. In some of thesevariations, each of the first and second adhesive zones comprise an arcsegment having an outer radius of curvature less than about 5.1 cm andan inner radius of curvature of at least about 1 cm. In some of thesevariations, the arc segments of each of the first and second adhesivezones may be separated from the longitudinal axis by a distance of atleast 0.65 cm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B show a top view and a bottom view, respectively of avariation of the body liners described here. FIGS. 1C-1E depictcross-section side views of variations of the body liner shown in FIGS.1A and 1B. FIG. 1F shows the body liner of FIGS. 1A and 1B placed atleast partially in the intergluteal cleft.

FIG. 2A depicts a side view of an illustrative variation of the bodyliners described here. FIG. 2B depicts a front view of the body liner ofFIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A depicts a top view of one variation of the body liners describedhere. FIG. 3B depicts the body liner of FIG. 3A placed at leastpartially within the intergluteal cleft. FIGS. 3C-3E depictcross-sectional side views of variations of the body liner shown in FIG.3A.

FIGS. 4A and 4E depict top views of variations of the body linersdescribed here. FIGS. 4B-4D depict cross-sectional side views ofvariations of the body liner shown in FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5A depicts a top view of one variation of the body liners describedhere. FIG. 5B depicts a cross-sectional side view of the body linershown in FIG. 5A.

FIG. 6A depicts a top view of a variation of the body liners describedhere. FIG. 6B depicts the body liner of FIG. 6A placed at leastpartially within the intergluteal cleft. FIGS. 6C and 6D depict topviews of variations of the body liners described here.

FIG. 7A depicts a top view of one variation of the body liners describedhere. FIG. 7B depicts the body liner of FIG. 7A placed at leastpartially within the intergluteal cleft. FIGS. 7C-7E depictcross-sectional side views of variations of the body liner shown in FIG.7A.

FIGS. 8A and 8E depict top views of variations of the body linersdescribed here. FIGS. 8B-8D depict cross-sectional side views ofvariations of the body liner shown in FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A depicts a top view of one variation of the body liners describedhere. FIG. 9B depicts a cross-sectional side view of the body linershown in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 10A depicts a top view of a variation of the body liners describedhere. FIG. 10B depicts the body liner of FIG. 10A placed at leastpartially within the intergluteal cleft. FIGS. 10C and 10D depict topviews of variations of the body liners described here.

FIGS. 11A and 11F depict top views of variations of the body linersdescribed here. FIG. 11B depicts the body liner of FIG. 11A placed atleast partially within the intergluteal cleft. FIGS. 11C-11E depictcross-sectional side views of variations of the body liner shown in FIG.11A.

FIGS. 12A and 12B, 13A and 13B, and 14 depict variations of body linerscomprising one or more adhesive regions.

FIG. 15A shows a top view of a body liner comprising barrier elements.FIG. 15B shows the body liner of FIG. 15A positioned at least partiallyin the intergluteal cleft.

FIGS. 16A and 16B depict top views of variations of body linerscomprising score lines.

FIGS. 17A-17C depict variations of a body liner comprising one or moreadhesive regions.

FIGS. 18A and 18B depict variations of a body liner comprising one ormore adhesive zones.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Described here are body liners and methods of using body liners to treataccidental bowel leakage. These body liners, which may be absorbentand/or flushable, are generally sized and configured to be placed atleast partially within the intergluteal cleft (i.e., between thebuttocks) and near the anus. When placed at least partially within theintergluteal cleft, the body liners may provide a wearer with physicalfeedback which may reassure or otherwise provide emotional confidence tothe wearer. In some instances, the body liners may include one or morefeatures or may otherwise be configured to be promote maintenance of thebody liner in a position at least partially within the interglutealcleft, and may also be configured to help minimize the risk ofdisplacement or dislodgement of the body liner (such as, for example,during movement of the wearer or during actions such as urination). Forexample, in some variations the body liners may comprise one or moreadhesive regions which may adhere to the skin of the wearer (e.g., skinof the buttocks) to help maintain the placement and positioning of thebody liner. The body liners described here may be worn while presentinglittle or no visual indication of use by the wearer, and may be of asufficiently small size such that replacements may discreetly carried bya wearer (e.g., in a pocket or purse). Additionally, the body liners maybe configured to be retrieved in a manner that does not require wearersto reach into the intergluteal cleft or otherwise soil their fingers.Accordingly, the body liners described here may present a discreet,comfortable, and sanitary treatment option for ABL.

When placed at least partially within the intergluteal cleft, the bodyliners described here may be configured to absorb and retain accidentalanal discharge. This discharge may include small amounts of fecal matterhaving relatively high water content. Accordingly, the body liners maybe configured to be at least partially fluid absorbent, such that thebody liner is capable of absorbing fluid from the anal discharge. Byabsorbing fluid from anal leakage, the body liners can dewater thefeces, which may act to immobilize any fecal matter that the body linermay be unable to absorb (e.g., by virtue of the size and/or consistencyof the fecal matter). Placing an absorbent portion of the body liner ator near the anus may allow the body liner to dewater anal dischargebefore the discharge can move too far from the anus, which may helpreduce the risk of soiling a wearer's undergarments or other clothing aswell as minimizing odors that may otherwise occur by spread of fecalmatter. Additionally, immobilizing discharge at or near the anus maygive a wearer time to find a restroom and may provide for discreetdisposal. Limiting the spread or movement of the discharge may allow forreduced cleanup, providing a hygienic treatment option.

The body liners may be formed from one or more liner layers, and some orall of the liner layers may be configured to be fluid absorbent.Generally, an absorbent liner layer may be configured to absorb and atleast partially retain fluid that contacts the liner layer, and may beconfigured to transfer fluid to adjoining absorbent liner layers asappropriate. In some of the variations in which a body comprisesmultiple liner layers, each of the liner layers is at least partiallyfluid absorbent. In these variations, the body liner may not include anyfluid impermeable layer. It should be appreciated, however, that thesebody liners may be packaged with one or more fluid-impermeable releaseliners that may be removed prior to placement of the body liner in theintergluteal cleft. Additionally, as will be described in more detailbelow, in some variations one or more portions of the body liner (namelya portion or portion configured to extend out of the intergluteal cleft)may be configured to have a reduced absorbency.

The body liners are generally configured as a substantially flat sheethaving a body-facing surface and a rear surface opposite the body-facingsurface, and which may be folded when placed in the intergluteal cleft.The body liners, however, may vary in thickness along the length and/orwidth of the body liner, and may have one or more features (e.g., abarrier member or the like) which may project or otherwise extend fromthe body-facing surface and/or rear surface of the body liner. When thebody liner is folded for placement at least partially within theintergluteal cleft, such folding may position the body-facing surface ofthe body liner in contact with the wearer's skin (e.g., the skin of thebuttocks) and to position the rear surface of the body liner intocontact with itself (i.e., at least a portion of the rear surface on oneside of the fold may contact at least a portion the rear surface on theother side of the fold). When a body liner comprises one or moreadhesive regions (as will be described in more detail below) on thebody-facing surface of the body liner, folding the body liner at leastpartially into the intergluteal cleft may position the one or moreadhesive regions such that they adhere to the skin of the wearer'sbuttocks, which may help position and hold the body liner in placerelative to the skin and anus of the wearer.

The one or more liner layers of the body liner may define thebody-facing and rear surfaces of the body liners described here. Forexample, when the body liner comprises a single liner layer, the linerlayer may have a body-facing side and a rear side opposite thebody-facing side. Since the liner layer is the only layer of the bodyliner, the body-facing side of the liner layer may form the body-facingsurface of the body liner and the rear side of the liner layer may formthe rear surface of the body liner. In variations where the body linercomprises multiple liner layers (e.g., a top sheet and/or a core memberand/or a back sheet, such as will be described in more detail below),each liner layer may have a body-facing side and a rear side oppositethe body-facing side. The body-facing sides of some or all of the linerlayers may form the body-facing surface of the body liner, while therear sides of some or all of the liner layers may form the rear surfaceof the body liner. For example, in some variations where a body linerincludes a top sheet and a core member that is smaller than the topsheet and attached thereto, the body-facing side of the top sheet mayform the body-facing surface of the body liner. The rear surface of thebody liner, however, may be formed from a combination of the rear sideof the core member as well as the portions of the rear side of the topsheet that are not covered by the core member. In another example, abody liner may comprise a top sheet, a back sheet having the same sizeand shape as the top sheet, and a core member enclosed therebetween. Inthese variations, a body-facing side of the top sheet may form thebody-facing surface of the body liner while a rear side of the backsheet may form the rear surface of the body liner. The core member, byvirtue of its enclosure between the top sheet and the back sheet, maynot form any portion of the external surfaces of the body liner.

The body liners described here may include any suitable number of linerlayers. In some variations, the body liner may comprise a single linerlayer. In other variations, the body liner may comprise a plurality ofliner layers. In some variations, the body liner may comprise two linerlayers. In some of these variations, the body liner may comprise onlytwo liner layers. In other variations, the body liner may comprise threeliner layers. In some of these variations, the body liner may compriseonly three liner layers. It should be appreciated that when the bodyliners are described here as having a specific number of liner layers(e.g., a single liner layer, only two liner layers, etc.), it should beappreciated that that the body liner may be packaged with one or moreremovable release liners that are removed prior to use, as described inmore detail below, but that the release liners are not considered aliner layer. It should also be appreciated that the body liner maycomprise one or more coatings, barrier members, or the like and thatthese additional features are not considered a separate body linerlayer.

When the body liners described here comprise multiple liner layers, thebody liners generally comprise a top sheet, and may further comprise acore member and/or a back sheet. For example, in some variations, a bodyliner may comprise a first liner layer and a second liner layer, suchthat the first liner layer is a top sheet, and the second layer is acore member. In some of these variations, the only liner layers of thebody liner are the top sheet and the core member (i.e., the body linerdoes not include any additional liner layers). In other variations, abody liner may comprise a first liner layer and a second liner layer,wherein the first liner layer is a top sheet and the second liner layeris a back sheet. In some of these variations, only liner layers of thebody liner are the top sheet and the back sheet are the only linerlayers. In still other variations, the body liner may not include a topsheet. For example, in some variations a body liner may comprise a coremember as a first liner layer and a back sheet as a second liner layer,and may not include a top sheet.

In some variations, the body liners described here may comprise at leastthree liner layers. For example, in some variations, the body liner maycomprise a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer, wherein thefirst layer is a top sheet, the second layer is a core member, and thethird layer is a back sheet. In some of these variations, the only linerlayers of the body liner are the top sheet, core member, and back sheet.In other variations, the body liner may comprise one or more additionalliner layers. For example, in some variations a body liner may comprisetwo or more core members. The top sheets, core members, and back sheetssuitable for use with the body liners described here will each bedescribed in more detail below, but it should be appreciated that when abody liner is described here as including a top sheet, core member,and/or back sheet, the body liner may include any combination of topsheets, core members and/or back sheets such as those described below.

Top Sheet

In variations where a body liner includes is a top sheet, the top sheetis typically the topmost layer of the body liner (although it should beappreciated, as described above, that one or more release liners may betemporarily attached to the top sheet). When a body liner including atop sheet is placed in the intergluteal cleft, the top sheet may beplaced into contact with skin of the buttocks. Accordingly, it may bedesirable to configure the top sheet from a soft and comfortablematerial. In some instance the top sheet may be formed from one or morenonwoven materials. For example, in some variations the top sheet may beformed from one or more air-laid non-woven materials, such as GladfelterDT075.100. In other variations, the top sheet may be formed from one orspun-laid or spun-bound materials, wet-laid materials,electrostatically-laid materials, combinations thereof or the like. Instill other variations, the top sheet may be formed from one or morewoven materials. The top sheet is preferably formed from one or morebiodegradable materials, which may contribute to the flushability of thebody liner, as will be described in more detail below. In someinstances, the top sheet may be configured to increase the softness ofthe top sheet. For example, in some variations one or more needles,combs, air jets and/or water jets may separate fibers of the top sheetlayer to increase the loft of the top sheet.

The top sheet is also preferably configured to be fluid absorbent, andmay be configured to have any suitable absorbency. For example, in somevariations the top sheet may have an absorbency of at least about 15g/g. When a body comprises a top sheet and a back sheet and/or coremember, the top sheet may be configured to transfer fluid absorbed bythe top sheet to the back sheet and/or core member, such as will bedescribed in more detail below. In these instances, it may be alsodesirable for the top sheet to retain at least a portion of the fluidabsorbed by the top sheet. Some individuals may not realize when anincidence of ABL has occurred. By retaining fluid within the top sheet,the soiled portions of the top sheet may feel wet to the skin contactingthe top sheet (as opposed to a dry sensation provided by the top sheetwhen the body liner is unsoiled), which may provide an indication to thewearer that an anal leakage incident has occurred and that the bodyliner should be replaced. This indication may occur prior to the spreadof odor (which may be minimized by the body liner immobilizing leakagenear the anus), and this may allow the wearer to avoid a potentiallyembarrassing incident.

The top sheet may have any suitable size and shape, such as will bedescribed in more detail below. For example, the top sheet may have acircular shape, an oval shape, a rectangular shape, a lobed shape (e.g.a butterfly shape), or the like. The body liner may have a thickness,which may at least partially depend on the number of liner layers of abody liner. For example, in some variations where a body liner comprisesa single liner layer including a top sheet, the top sheet may have athickness of about 1.5 mm, between about 1.25 and about 1.75 mm, or thelike. In some variations where a body liner comprises a plurality ofliner layers (e.g., a top sheet and a core member and/or a back sheet),the top sheet may have a thickness of about 0.5 mm, between about 0.25and about 0.75 mm, or the like.

In variations, the top sheet may configured such that one or moreportion of the body liner may be at least partially viewed therethrough(e.g., the top sheet may be porous and/or formed from one or morepartially-translucent materials). In variations where the body linercomprises a top sheet, a back sheet, and a core member positionedbetween the top sheet and the back sheet, top sheet may be configured toallow for visualization of the core member through the top sheet.

Core Member

When the body liners described here comprise one or more core members,core members are typically positioned beneath the top sheet of the bodyliner. The core members are preferably configured to absorb fluid, andmay have any suitable absorbency. For example, in some variations thecore member has an absorbency of at least 20 g/g. When a body linercomprises a top sheet and a core member, the core member may have anabsorbency equal to that of a top sheet. In other variations, the coremember may have a greater absorbency than the top sheet. For example, insome variations a body liner may comprise a core member having a greaterabsorbency than a top sheet, wherein the top sheet has an absorbency ofat least about 15 g/g and the core member has an absorbency of at leastabout 20 g/g. The core member may be formed from any suitable non-wovenor woven material, such as described in more detail above. In somevariations, the core member may be preferably formed from anon-entangled, wet-laid pulp, such as EAM Novathin® J1400. The coremember may preferably be formed from one or more biodegradablematerials, which may contribute to the flushability of the body liner,as described in more detail below.

When positioned beneath a top sheet, the core member may receive andabsorb fluid from the top sheet. Additionally, in variations where thebody liner comprises a top sheet, a core member, and a back sheet, atleast some of the fluid absorbed by the core member may be transferredto the back sheet. The core member may have any suitable thickness. Insome variations, the core member may have a thickness of at least 1 mm.In other variations, the core member may have a thickness of at least 2mm. The thickness of the core member may be increased to increase theabsorbency of the body liner.

Back Sheet

When the body liners described here comprise a back sheet, the backsheet is typically the bottom-most layer of the body liner. Invariations where the body liner additionally comprises one or more coremembers, the core members may be positioned between the top sheet andthe back sheet. The back sheet is also preferably configured to be fluidabsorbent. For example, in some variations the back sheet may have anabsorbency of at least about 1 g/g. The back sheet may have anabsorbency greater than that that of the top sheet, equal to that of thetop sheet, or less than that of the top sheet. In variations where thebody liner comprises one or more core members, the back sheet may havean absorbency greater than that that of the core member, equal to thatof the core member, or less than that of the core member. For example,in some variations the back sheet may have an absorbency less than boththe top sheet and the core member. Generally, it may be preferable toconfigure that back sheet to have greater structural integrity than thetop sheet and/or core member.

When the back sheet is fluid absorbent, the back sheet typicallyreceives fluid from top sheet and/ or a core member (in variations inwhich the body liner comprises a core member). When the body liner isfolded and placed in the intergluteal cleft, a portion of the back sheeton one side of the fold may be placed in contact with a portion of theback sheet on the other side of the fold. An absorbent body liner may beable to transfer fluid from the back sheet on one side of the fold tothe back sheet on the other side of the fold by virtue of this contact.

The back sheet may be made from any suitable non-woven or wovenmaterials, such as described in more detail above. For example, in somevariations the back sheet may formed from one or more hydroentanglednon-woven materials, such as, for example Suominen WL784450. The backsheet is preferably formed from one or more biodegradable materials,which may contribute to the flushability of the body liner. The back mayhave any suitable size. For example, the back sheet may have a thicknessof about 1 mm, between about 0.5 mm and about 1.5 mm, or the like. Insome variations, the back sheet may be configured such that one or moreportions of the body liner may be at least partially visualized throughthe back sheet, such as described above. For example, in variationswhere the body liner comprises a top sheet, a back sheet, and a coremember positioned between the top sheet and the back sheet, the backsheet may be configured to allow for visualization of the core memberthrough the back sheet.

Exemplary Body Liner Construction

FIGS. 1A-1E depicts an illustrative variation of the body linersdescribed here. FIGS. 1A and 1B show top and bottom views, respectivelyof a variation of a body liner (100). The body liner (100) may have abody-facing surface (102) (as shown in FIG. 1A) and a rear surface (104)(shown in FIG. 1B) opposite the body-facing surface (102). The bodyliner (100) may include a longitudinal axis (106) and a lateral axis(108) within the plane of the body liner (100). The longitudinal (106)and lateral (108) axes are orthogonal, and may intersect at a targetpoint (110). When the body liner (100) is placed at least partiallywithin the intergluteal cleft, it is intended that the body liner bepositioned such that the target point (110) is positioned over the anusat or near the anus of the wearer and the body liner (100) be foldedsubstantially along the longitudinal axis (106). It should beappreciated that the longitudinal axis, the lateral axis, and the targetpoint are relative terms which may be useful in describing the size,shape, and features of the body liners described here. While the targetpoint (110) is shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B as positioned near the center ofthe body liner (100), it should be appreciated that in some instances itmay be desirable to configure a body liner such that the target point isoffset from the center of the body liner. For example, in somevariations a target point may positioned closer to a front end of thebody liner than a back end of the body liner, which may facilitateurination when the body liner is in place.

Also shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B is a target zone (112). Generally, atarget zone (112) surrounds the target point (110) and is intended asthe primary region of the body liner for receiving bowel leakage. Whenthe target zone (112) receives a load of bowel leakage, the target zone(112) may be configured to dewater and immobilize the leakage. It may bedesirable to configure the body liner (100) to allow the target zone(112) to dewater an anticipated ABL load. For example, the target zone(112) may be configured to dewater an ABL load of at least about 0.05ml. In some of these variations, the target zone (112) may be configuredto dewater an ABL load of 0.25 ml or more, and in some of thesevariations the target zone (112) may be configured to dewater an ABLload of 5 ml or more. The target zone (112) may be any suitable size orshape. In some variations, the target zone (112) may have an areabetween about 25 cm² and about 55 cm². In some of these variations, thetarget zone (112) may preferably have an area between about 30 cm² andabout 50 cm². In some of these variations, the target zone (112) mayhave an area between about 35 cm² and about 45 cm². In some instancesthat target zone may have at least a 3 cm radius from the target point.The target zone (112) may be oval, rectangular, hourglass shaped,irregularly shaped, or the like, as will be described in more detailbelow.

Additionally, in some variations it may be desirable to limit the amountof absorbed fluid that travels beyond the target zone (112). Forexample, when one or more portions of the body liner is configured toextend at least partially from the intergluteal cleft (e.g., so that awearer can grasp the exposed portion or portions to remove the bodyliner), limiting the ability of fluid absorbed to travel past the targetzone and to the exposed portions of the body liner may reduce thelikelihood that the wearer will soil his or her fingers when removingthe body liner (100). While the target zone (112) is shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B as being centered on the target point (110), the target zone(112) need not be. In some variations, the boundaries of the target zonemay be defined by the boundaries of a core member, such as will bedescribed in more detail below.

The target zone of a body liner may be configured to have one or moreproperties that are different than those of surroundings portions of thebody liner. In some variations, the target zone of a body liner may beconfigured to have a greater absorbency than surrounding portions of thebody liner. For example, in some variations the target zone may have athickness greater than the thickness of surrounding portions of the bodyliner, which may allow for greater fluid absorption relative to thinnerportions of the body liner. Additionally or alternatively, the targetzone may include one or more additional liner layers which may increasethe absorbency of the target zone. Additionally or alternatively, thetarget zone may be formed from a different material or materials thanthe material or materials of the surrounding portions of the body liner.In these variations, the material or combination of materials formingthe target zone may be more absorbent than the material or combinationof materials forming the surrounding portions of the body liner.Additionally or alternatively, the target zone may be imbedded with oneor more absorbent particles, such as one or more super absorbentpolymers, which may increase the absorbency of the target zone.

The body liner (100) shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B has a target zone (112)having an oval shape, but it should be appreciated that the body linersdescribed here (including the body liner (100)) may have a target zonehaving any suitable shape (e.g., a circular shape, a square orrectangular shape, a triangular shape, an hourglass shape, an irregularshape, or the like). Additionally, the body liner (100) shown in FIGS.1A and 1B is shown as having an overall butterfly shape having fourlobes (116) extending from the target zone (112), it should beappreciated that the body liners described here may have any suitableshape, such as will be described in more detail below.

In some instances, it may be desirable to configure the body linersdescribed here to avoid contact with or occlusion of the genitals of thewearer. For example, in instances in which a female wearer positions abody liner at least partially in the intergluteal cleft to position atarget point at the intergluteal cleft, it may be desirable to configurethe body liner to not occlude the vagina. If a portion of the body lineroccludes the vagina or is positioned too close to the vagina, the bodyliner may absorb urine or menstrual fluid from the vagina, which mayrequire removal of the body liner. In other variations, contact betweenthe body liner and the genitals may cause bunching of the body linerand/or discomfort to the wearer. Accordingly, the body liner may beconfigured to avoid contact with or occlusion of genitals. For example,in the illustrative variation of the body liner (100) shown in FIGS. 1Aand 1B, the length of the body liner (100) along the longitudinal axis(106) between the target point (110) and the front end of the body liner(100) may be less than the distance between the anus and the genitals.In some variations the length of the body liner (100) along thelongitudinal axis (106) between the target point (110) and the front endof the body liner (100) may be less may be less than about 3.5 cm.

The body liner (100) shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B may be formed from one ormore liner layers, such as discussed briefly above. FIGS. 1C-1E depictdifferent variations in which the body liner (100) may be formed fromone or more liner layers. FIG. 1C depicts a cross-sectional side view(taken along the longitudinal axis (106)) of a variation in which thebody liner (100) may be formed from a first liner layer (118) (e.g., atop sheet such as those described above). In some of these variations,the first liner layer (118) may be the only liner layer of the bodyliner (100). As shown in FIG. 1C, the first liner layer (118) may have abody-facing side (120) and a rear side (122) opposite the body-facingside (120). The body-facing side (120) of the first liner layer (118)may form the body-facing surface (102) of the body liner (100) and therear side (122) of the first liner layer (118) may form the rear surface(104) of the body liner (100). In some variations, such as that shown inFIG. 1C, the first liner layer (118) may have a greater thickness in thetarget zone (112) than in the surrounding portions of the body liner(100). The increased thickness of the target zone (112) may increase theoverall absorbency of the target zone (112). It should be appreciated,however, that in other instances the target zone (112) may have the samethickness as or a smaller thickness than surrounding portions of bodyliner (for example, in instances where the target zone (112) maycomprise one or more absorbent agents imbedded therein).

FIG. 1D depicts a cross-sectional side view (taken along thelongitudinal axis (106)) of a variation in which the body liner (100)may comprise two liner layers. As shown there, the body liner (100) maycomprise a top sheet (124) and a core member (126). In some of thesevariations, the top sheet (124) and core member (126) may be the onlyliner layers of the body liner. The top sheet (124) and the core member(126) may be any combination of the top sheets and core members such asthose described in more detail above. The top sheet (124) and coremember (126) may each have a body-facing side ((128) and (132),respectively) and a rear side ((130) and (134), respectively) oppositethe body-facing side. At least a portion of the body-facing side (132)of the core member (126) may be attached to the rear side (130) of thetop-sheet (124) to connect the liner layers, as will be described inmore detail below. In the variation shown in FIG. 1D, the body-facingside (128) of the top sheet (124) may form the body-facing surface (102)of the body liner (100), while the rear side (134) of the core member(126) and the portion of the rear side (130) of the top sheet (124) notcovered by the core member (126) may form the rear surface (104) of thebody liner (100). Additionally, in some of these variations, the sizeand shape of the core member (126) may define the boundaries of thetarget zone (112).

FIG. 1E depicts a cross-sectional side view (taken along thelongitudinal axis)) of a variation in which the body liner (100) maycomprise three liner layers. As shown there, the body may comprise a topsheet (124) and a core member (126) (which are labeled as set forth inFIG. 1D), and may further comprise a back sheet (127). In somevariations, the top sheet (124), core member (126), and back sheet (127)may be the only liner layers of the body liner. The back sheet (127) mayhave a body-facing side (136) and a rear side (138) opposite thebody-facing side (136). In the variation shown in FIG. 1E, the coremember may be enclosed between the top sheet (124) and the back sheet(127). In these variations, top sheet (124) and back sheet (127) may beconnected, as will be described in more detail below. In some of thesevariations, the core member (126) may also be attached to top sheet(124) and/or the back sheet (127). In the variation shown in FIG. 1E,the body-facing side (128) of the top sheet (124) may form thebody-facing surface (102) of the body liner (100) and the rear side(138) of the back sheet (127) may form the rear surface (104) of thebody liner (100). In some of these variations, the size and shape of thecore member (126) may define the boundaries of the target zone (112).

As shown in FIGS. 1A, the body liner (100) may comprise one or moreadhesive regions (114) on the body-facing surface (102) of the bodyliner (100). In the variation shown in FIG. 1A, the body liner (100) hasan adhesive region (114) on each side of the longitudinal axis (106),although it should be appreciated that in some variations the body liner(100) may only have one or more adhesive regions (114) on one side ofthe longitudinal axis (106). In some variations, the body liner (100)may have one or more adhesive regions that cross the longitudinal axis(106). In still other variations, the body liner (100) may not compriseany adhesive regions. The size, shape, and placement of adhesive regionsfor use with the body liners described here will be described in moredetail below.

Body Liner Retrieval

The body liners described here may be constructed and arranged to allowfor removal of the body liner from the intergluteal cleft. Specifically,it may be desirable to configure the body liners to allow for removal ofthe body liner while minimizing the likelihood that the wearer soils hisor her fingers during removal of the body liner. For example, one ormore retrieval devices may be attached to the body liner. In some ofthese variations, a string, ribbon, tab, or the like may be attached toone or more portions of the body liner (e.g., via an adhesive, welding,or the like). In these variations, when the body liner is placed atleast partially within the intergluteal cleft, the string or ribbon maybe positioned to extend at least partially out of the interglutealcleft. To remove the body liner (e.g., after a bowel leakage incident),a wearer may pull on the string or ribbon to pull the body liner awayfrom the intergluteal cleft.

In some variations, the body liner may be sized and configured to extendat least partially from the intergluteal cleft when positioned. Forexample, in variations in which the body liner comprises one or morelobes, one or more of the lobes may extend at least partially from theintergluteal cleft. FIG. 1F shows the illustrative variation of the bodyliner (100) (described above with respect to FIGS. 1A and 1B) placed atleast partially within the intergluteal cleft (140). As shown there, thebody liner (100) may be folded along the longitudinal axis (106) andpositioned such that the target point (110) is positioned at or near theanus (142). The body liner (100) may be sized such that when the targetpoint (110) is positioned at or near the anus (142), at least a portionof one or more of the lobes (116) may extend at least partially outsideof the intergluteal cleft. The portion of the body liner that extendsfrom the intergluteal cleft is preferably large enough to allow a wearerto grasp the exposed portion of the body liner. In some of thesevariations, the body liner may be sized and configured such that atleast a portion of the body liner (e.g., one or more lobes) extends atleast 1 cm from the intergluteal cleft when the target point (110) ispositioned at or near the anus (142)). The wearer of the body liner maygrab one or more of the exposed portions of the body liner, and may pullon the body liner to remove the body liner from the intergluteal cleft.By allowing the wearer to remove the body liner without reaching intothe intergluteal cleft, a wearer is less likely to soil his or herfingers when removing the body liner.

While it may be desirable for at least a portion of the body liner toextend from the intergluteal cleft, it may also be desirable to limitthe amount of extension of the body liner from the intergluteal cleft.If the body liner extends too far from the intergluteal cleft, clothingmay catch or snag the body liner (e.g., when putting on or removingundergarments or pants) which may dislodge or displace the body linerfrom its intended position. Accordingly, in some variations the bodyliner may be sized, configured, and positioned such that at least aportion of the body liner extends out of the intergluteal cleft and theportions of the body liner extending out of the intergluteal cleftextend less than about 2.5 cm from the intergluteal cleft. In some ofthese variations, at least a portion of the portions of the body linerextending out of the intergluteal cleft may extend at least 1 cm out ofthe intergluteal cleft.

When the body liners described here are configured to extend at leastpartially from the intergluteal cleft, such as described immediatelyabove, it may be desirable to limit the absorbance of the exposedportions of the body liner. In these variations, decreasing theabsorbance of the exposed portions of the body liner may reduce theability of absorbed fluid to reach the exposed portions of the bodyliner, thereby reducing the likelihood that a wearer will grab a soiledportion of the body liner during removal of the body liner. In somevariations, the exposed portions of the body liner may be crimped,crushed, or otherwise compressed to reduce the absorbance of the exposedportions. For example, when the body liner comprises one or more lobesthat are configured to extend at least partially from the interglutealcleft (such as lobes (116) of the body liner (100) described above withrespect to FIG. 1F), the lobes may be crimped, crushed, or otherwisecompressed. Additionally or alternatively, the exposed portions of thebody liner may be covered by one or more fluid-impervious materials. Inthese variations, if fluid absorbed by the body liner reaches theexposed portions of the body liner, the fluid-impervious covering mayprevent fluid from being transferred to the wearer's fingers. Forexample, in some of the variation of the body liner (100) describedabove with respect to FIGS. 1A and 1B, lobes (116) may comprise coatedregions (150) which may be coated with one or more fluid-imperviousmaterials. While each of the lobes (116) are shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B ashaving a coated region (150), it should be appreciated that only some ofthe lobes (e.g., only the lobes on a first side of the lateral axis(108), only the lobes on a first side of the longitudinal axis (106), orthe like) may comprise a coated region (150).

Flushability

In some variations, the body liners described here may be configured tobe entirely flushable. Panty liners, menstrual pads and incontinencepads generally are not flushable, by virtue of their relatively largesize and/or the presence of fluid-impermeable layers. When a product isnot flushable, a wearer must find alternative means of disposal for theproduct, or risk clogging a toilet by attempting to flush the device(which may create an embarrassing situation for the wearer). The odorsassociated with anal leakage may make discreet disposal of fecalincontinence pads difficult, especially in public restrooms where trashreceptacles are generally not provided in individual stalls.Accordingly, it may be desirable to configure the body liners describedhere to be flushable for discreet disposal in a toilet.

When the body liners described here are configured to be flushable, theymay be configured to be flushable based on INDA and/or EDANA guidelines(e.g., the body liner may clear properly-maintained toilets and pipesystems under expected product usage conditions and may be compatiblewith existing wastewater disposal systems). In some of these variations,the body liner may be configured to dispersible based on INDA and/orEDANA guidelines. In some variations, the body liner may be configuredto use little or no non-biodegradable materials. In some of thesevariations, less than 10% of the mass of the body liner may be formedfrom non-biodegradable materials. In some of these variations, less than5% of mass of the body liner may formed from non-biodegradablematerials. In some variations, each of the liner layers is formed fromone or more biodegradable materials (each liner layer may be formed fromthe same biodegradable material or combination of biodegradablematerials, or different liner layers may be formed from differentbiodegradable materials or combinations of biodegradable materials). Insome variations, each of the liner layers is formed from a dispersiblematerial. In some variations where the body liner comprises one or moreadhesive regions, one or more adhesives of the adhesive regions may bethe only non-biodegradable component of the body liner. In thesevariations, the size and placement of adhesive regions may be configuredso as to not interfere with the flushability of the body liners.

When a body liner is configured to be flushable, the body liner ispreferably made using materials that facilitate or otherwise promotedissolution of the product when disposed in a toilet. For example, invariation where a body liner comprises two or more liner layers that maybe at least partially bonded together, as will be described in moredetail below, the liner layers may be bonded using one or morewater-soluble resins. The liner layers of the flushable body liners arepreferably made of cellulosic materials, such as one or more woven ornonwoven materials formed using cellulosic fibers. These cellulosicmaterials need not include long synthetic fibers, which may promotedispersibility of the body liner. For example, in variations where abody liner comprises a combination of a top sheet, a core member, and/ora back sheet such as those described above, each of the liner layers maybe formed from one or more cellulosic materials. Because the body linersare typically removed shortly after soiling, the body liner may beremoved prior to significant dissolution of the dissolvable ordispersible body liner components. When the body liner is packaged withone or more release liners, it should be appreciated that the releaseliner need not be flushable, although the release liner may also beflushable.

It may also be desirable to minimize the overall size of a body liner tofacilitate flushing of the body liner. By placing a target point (and insome instances a target zone) of the body liner at or near the analopening, the body liner may trap ABL loads near the anal opening, whichmay allow the overall bulk of the body liners to be reduced relative topanty liners, diapers, and the like. Additionally, in some variations,the body liners may be impregnated with one or more absorbent materials(e.g., one or more super-absorbent polymers) which may allow forincreased absorption by the body liner without significantly increasingthe overall bulk of body liner. In these variations, any liner layer orliner layers (e.g., a top sheet, a back sheet, a core member,combinations thereof, or the like) may be impregnated with thesepolymers. It should be appreciated, however, that the body linerdescribed here may be able to immobilize and/or absorb a load of analleakage without the need for super absorbent polymers. Furthermore, invariations of the body liners described here that do not include afluid-impermeable layer, the absence of a fluid-impermeable layer mayreduce the size of the body liners (and also may remove the flushingliability that may occur due to the layer's fluid impermeability).

Multi-Ply Construction

When the body liners described here comprise a plurality of linerlayers, some or all of the plurality of liner layers may be connected inany suitable manner. The layers may be formed individually from therespective raw materials for each layer. For example, in somevariations, a top sheet layer may be formed from an airlaid non-wovenmaterial having a high loft and softness, a core member layer may beformed from a wet-laid non-woven material, and a back sheet may beformed from a hydroentangled non-woven material. The individual layersof the body liner may be placed in contact with each other, and may beconnected in one or more manners. For example, two core layers may bebonded together using one or more adhesives. Additionally oralternatively, two layers may be mechanically connected.

When two liners layers are connected using one or more adhesives, one ormore adhesives may be applied to one or both of the liner layers and theliner layers may be placed into contact with each other such that theone or more adhesive joins the liner layers. The adhesive may be anysuitable adhesive (e.g., one or more hot melt adhesives such asDEMRA-TAK H 542B, Henkel EASYMELT® 34-375C, one or more solvent-basedadhesives, one or more water-based adhesives, one or more energy-,heat-, or chemically-cured adhesives, combinations thereof and the like)and may be applied in any suitable manner (e.g., spray application, slotdie coating, or the like). Rolling drums, one or more presses, or thelike may be used to apply pressure to the liner layers. In someinstances, these devices may be heated or cooled to help control theadhesive properties.

When the two layers are mechanically connected, they may be connected inany suitable manner, such as, for example, sewing, embossing, crimping,ultrasonic bonding, thermal bonding, needle punching, entanglement(e.g., fluid entanglement), or the like. For example, in some instances,two or more layers may be joined via entanglement. In these instances, aneedle or other penetrating mechanism (e.g., a high pressure air orwater stream) may penetrate through the liner layers to entangle fibersof the liner layers. Additionally or alternatively, the penetrationmechanism may drive one or more long fibers through the liner layers tomechanically tie the liner layers together.

For example, in some variations where the body liner comprises a topsheet and a core member in contact with the top sheet, such as describedin more detail below, the core member may be connected directly to thetop sheet. In some variations, the core member may be bonded to the topsheet using one or more adhesives. For example, in some variations, thecore member may be bonded to the top sheet using a water soluble resin.Additionally or alternatively, the core member may be mechanicallyconnected to the top sheet, such as described in more detail above.

In variations where a body liner further comprises a core member and aback sheet in contact with the core member, the core member may beattached to the back sheet in any manner such as described immediatelyabove. In variations where a body liner comprises a top sheet, a backsheet, and a core member positioned between the top sheet and the backsheet, any or all of the liner layers may be joined together in anysuitable manner such as those described above (e.g., adhesive bondingand/or mechanical connection). For example, in some of these variations,the top sheet and back sheet may be directly connected, and the coremember may be attached to one or both of the top sheet and back sheet.

When the core member is enclosed between a top sheet and a back sheet,the core member need not be directly attached to either the top sheet orthe back sheet. In these variations, the top sheet and the back sheetmay be connected to enclose and retain the core member in between thetop sheet and back sheet. It may still be desirable for the core memberto be attached to the top sheet and/or back sheet to help preventrelative movement between the core member and the top and back sheets.In these instances, only a small portion of the core member need beattached to the top sheet and/or the back sheet. For example, in somevariations, the core member may be directly connected to the back sheet(e.g., using adhesive bonding and/or mechanical connection) such thatless than about 15% of the surface area of the core member may beattached to the back sheet. Additionally or alternatively, the coremember may be directly connected to the top sheet (e.g., using adhesivebonding and/or mechanical connection) such that less than about 15% ofthe surface area of the core member may be attached to the top sheet.

In variations where a body liner comprises a back sheet and a top sheet(and, in some variations, a core member positioned therebetween), theback sheet and the top sheet may be directly connected and/or indirectlyconnected (e.g., connected via a common attachment to a liner layer suchas a core member). In some instances, it may be desirable for the backsheet and the top sheet to be substantially unconnected. For example,friction between folded-over rear surfaces may cause the body liner toslip relative to skin of the buttocks during movement, which may resultin bunching or displacement of the body liner, as described in moredetail above. When the top sheet and back sheet are largely unconnected,the top sheet may be able to slip relative to the back sheet duringwearer movement, and this movement may help prevent dislodgement and/orbunching of the body liner (especially in variations where the rearsurface of the body liner has a low coefficient of friction).Additionally, adhesive bonding between liner layers may interfere withthe ability of the body liner to absorb fluid, may affect theflushability of the liner layer, and/or may increase the stiffness ofthe body liner (which may decrease the level of comfort provided by thebody liner). Accordingly, it may be desirable to join liner layers whileminimizing the proportion of the surface area of the liner layers thatare connected. In some variations, the top sheet and the back sheet maybe connected such that at least 80 percent of surface areas of the topsheet and back sheet remain unconnected. In some of these variations, atleast 90 percent of the surface areas of the top sheet and the backsheet remain unconnected.

When the back sheet and top sheet are directly connected, they may beconnected in any suitable manner such as described in more detail above(e.g., via adhesive bonding and/or mechanical attachment). In somevariations, the back sheet and the top sheet may be connected around theperiphery of the top sheet and/or back sheet. In some of thesevariations, the back sheet and the top sheet may be connected around theentire periphery of the top sheet and/or back sheet. In variations wherethe top sheet and the back sheet have the same shape, the top sheet andthe back sheet may be joined around the peripheries of both the topsheet and the back sheet. In variations where the top sheet is largerthan the back sheet, the top sheet and back sheet may be joined aroundthe periphery of the back sheet, or vice versa.

When multiple layers are joined to form a body liner, the shape of thebody liner may be created before or after the liner layers are joined.For example, in some variations the shape of individual liner layers maybe set prior to joining the liner layers (e.g., individual liner layersmay be cut to the desired shape of the body liner prior to constructionof the body liner) or the body liner may be set into a desired shapeafter the liner layers have been joined (e.g., the multi-layerconstruction may be cut into the desired body liner shape).Additionally, in some instances (such as described in more detailbelow), one or more adhesive regions may be applied to the body liner.The body liner or individual liner layers may be cut in any suitablemanner, such as die cutting, laser cutting, water jet cutting, or thelike.

Absorption

As mentioned above, the body liners described here may be configured tobe fluid absorbent. The body liners described here may be able to absorbany suitable amount of fluid, depending on the size and materials of thebody liners. In some variations, a body liner may have an overallabsorbency index of at least about 1.25 g/g. When fluid is absorbed bythe body liner, the absorbent material may be configured acquire,distribute, and store fluid absorbed by the liner (e.g., via porosityand/or capillarity of the materials). In some variations, at least aportion of the body liner may be configured to be absorbent such that ismay pass body fluid from a body-facing surface to an opposite-facingrear surface of the body liner. In these variations, the body liner maybe configured to wick or otherwise transfer fluid via rearsurface-to-rear surface contact between body liner portions of differentsides of a fold line (such as when folded along a longitudinal axis suchas described in more detail above), such as when the rear surfaces ofbody liner include absorbent materials. When the body liners describedhere comprise a plurality of liner layers (e.g., a top sheet and a backsheet and/or core member), some or all of the liner layers may beconfigured to be fluid absorbent. In some variations, each of the linerlayers may be configured to be fluid absorbent. In these variations, thebody liner may be able to transfer fluid from a body-facing surfacethrough the plurality of liner layers and to a rear surface of the bodyliner (e.g., each liner layer may be able to transfer fluid from abody-facing side of the liner layer to a rear side of the liner layer).Additionally, the absorbent nature of the body liner (and the linerlayers thereof) may allow for gas to pass therethrough, which maythereby provide breathability of the body liner and reduce of moistureby the body liner.

In some variations above, it may be desirable to configure the bodyliner to selectively distribute fluid absorbed by the body liner.Specifically, the body liner may be configured to have different fluidwicking rates in different directions. FIG. 2A shows a perspective viewof an illustrative variation of a body liner (200). The body liner (200)may be any of the body liners described hereinthroughout, and may haveany suitable size, shape, and configuration of features. As shown inFIG. 2A, movement of fluid at a given point (201) may be divided intothree component directions (i.e., a first direction (202), a seconddirection (204), and a third direction (206)). As shown there, the first(202) and second (204) directions may be perpendicular to each otherwithin the plane of the body liner (200). The third direction (206) maybe perpendicular to the plane of the body liner (200) (and may therebybe perpendicular to both the first (202) and second (204) directions)and may extend across the thickness of the body liner (200). The bodyliners described here may be configured to selectively control the rateof fluid movement in the first, second, and third directions.

For example, in some variations, it may be desirable to configure a bodyliner (or one or more liner layers of a body liner) such that fluidmoves more quickly through the thickness of a body liner (or liner layerthereof) than it does within the plane of the body liner (or liner layerthereof). For example, in the illustrative variation of the body liner(200) shown in FIG. 2A, the body liner (200) may have a wicking rate inthe third direction (206) that is greater than wicking rates in thefirst (202) and second (204) directions. In these instances, fluid thatcontacts the body liner (e.g., from a load of bowel leakage) may passmore quickly through the body liner (e.g., from a skin-facing surface ofthe body liner toward a rear surface of the body liner) than it spreadsacross the body liner. This may promote absorption across the thicknessof the body liner and may reduce the spreading of the fluid load whenapplied to the body liner. Reducing spread of the fluid absorbed by thebody liner may reduce the likelihood that fluid will reach the exteriorportion of the body liner, thereby reducing the likelihood that a wearerwill touch a soiled portion of the body liner when removing the bodyliner.

Additionally, when the body liner is substantially folded back on itself(e.g., folded along the longitudinal axis when placed at least partiallyin the intergluteal cleft), the fluid that contacts the body liner onone side of the fold line may be transferred through the thickness ofbody liner and may be further transferred to a portion of the body lineron the other side of the fold (e.g., via the rear surface-to-rearsurface contact). For example, FIG. 2B shows a front view of the bodyliner (200) shown in FIG. 2A, in which the body liner (200) has beenfolded in half along a longitudinal axis (not shown). As shown there,fluid passing in the third direction (206) relative to point (201) willmove toward the opposite half of the body liner along the thirddirection (206), and may be absorbed by the opposite half of the bodyliner along the third direction (206). This may increase the overallamount of fluid that is absorbed in the third direction (206), which mayfurther reduce the amount of fluid that may spreads in the first (202)and second (204) directions for a given fluid load. This may help tolocalize fluid relative to its initial contact point, which is typicallyclose to the anus. When one or more portions of the body liner extendsat least partially out of the intergluteal cleft, this localization mayreduce the likelihood that fluid reaches the exposed portion or portionsof the body liner.

In some variations it may be desirable to configure the body liner (or aliner layer thereof) to transfer fluid at different rates within theplane of the body liner (or liner layer thereof). For example, invariations where the body liner comprises one or more air-laid non-wovenmaterials, the fibers of the material may be laid such that fibers aremore aligned in a first direction than a second direction. For example,in the illustrative variation of the body liner (200) shown in FIGS. 2Aand 2B, a wicking rate in the first direction (202) may be greater thana wicking rate in the second direction (204) (or vice versa). In thesevariations, a fluid load applied to the body liner (200) may spread morein the first direction (202) than in the second direction (204). Thismay find particular utility in instances where one or more portions of abody liner extend beyond the intergluteal cleft to act as a retrievalportion which the wearer can grasp and pull to remove the body linerfrom the intergluteal cleft. In these variations, it may be desirable tominimize the likelihood that fluid reaches the retrieval portions of thebody liners. For example, in the variation of the body liner (100)described above with respect to FIGS. 1A-1E, the body liner (100) may beconfigured such that at least a portion of one or more of these lobes(116) may extend at least partially from the intergluteal cleft when thebody liner (100) is placed at least partially within the interglutealcleft. These exposed portions of the lobes (116) are positioned eitherabove or below the lateral axis (108). Accordingly, in these variations,it may be desirable to configure the body liner (100) such that awicking rate in a direction parallel to lateral axis (108) is greaterthan a wicking rate in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis(106). In these variations, when a load of anal leakage contacts thebody liner (e.g., in the target zone (112)), fluid from the load mayspread across the width of the body liner faster than it spreads alongthe length of the body liner. Accordingly, a smaller amount of fluid mayspread along the longitudinal axis toward the lobes (116), which maydecrease the likelihood that fluid will be able to travel far enough toreach the exposed portions of the lobes (116).

When the body liners described here are configured to have a wickingrate in a first direction within a plane of the body liner (e.g., firstdirection (202) of body liner (200)) that is greater than a wicking ratein a second direction within a plane of the body liner (e.g., seconddirection (204) of the body liner (200)), the first and seconddirections may be any suitable direction in the body liner. For example,in some of the variations, the first direction may be parallel to thelongitudinal axis and the second direction may be parallel to thelateral axis (e.g., fluid may travel along the longitudinal axis fasterthan it travels along the lateral axis). In others of these variations,the first direction may be parallel to the lateral axis, and the seconddirection may be parallel to the longitudinal axis (e.g., fluid maytravel along the lateral axis faster than it travels along thelongitudinal axis). In still others of these variations, the firstdirection may be angled relative to the longitudinal axis. In thesevariations, the angle between the first direction and the longitudinalaxis may be any suitable angle (e.g., about 30 degrees, about 45degrees, about 60 degrees, or the like). Because the first and seconddirections are perpendicular to each other, the angle between the seconddirection and the lateral axis may be the same as the angle between thefirst direction and the longitudinal axis.

When the body liners described here are configured to have a wickingrate in a first direction within a plane of the body liner (e.g., firstdirection (202) of body liner (200)) that is greater than a wicking ratein a second direction within a plane of the body liner (e.g., seconddirection (204) of the body liner (200)), the wicking rate across thethickness of the body liner (e.g., third direction (204) of the bodyliner (200)) may be any suitable value relative to the wicking rates inthe first and second directions. For example, in some variations, thewicking rate in the third direction may be greater than the wickingrates of both the first and second directions, such as described in moredetail above. In other variations, the wicking rate in the thirddirection may be approximately equal to the wicking rate in the firstdirection. In still other variations, the wicking rate in the thirddirection may be less than the wicking rate in the first direction, butmay be greater than the wicking rate in the second direction. In yetother variations, the wicking rate in the third direction may beapproximately equal to the wicking rate in the second direction. Instill other variations, the wicking rate in the third direction may beless than the wicking rates in both the first and second directions. Itshould be appreciated that while described above as having differentwicking rates in the first, second, and/or third directions, it shouldbe appreciated that in some variations, a body liner (or a liner layerthereof) may be configured to uniformly distribute absorbed fluid (e.g.,the wicking rates in each direction of the body liner are approximatelyequal).

In variations where the body liner comprises a plurality of layers, anyor all of the liner layers may be configured to selectively distributefluid in any manner as described above. The movement of fluid withineach liner layer may be characterized based on wicking rates in threecomponent directions, specifically a first direction in a plane of thebody liner, a second direction in a plane of the body liner that isperpendicular to the first direction, and a third direction extendingthrough the thickness of the body liner and perpendicular to both thefirst and second directions, such as described above. The wicking ratefor a given direction in one liner layer may be the same as or differentfrom the wicking rate for that direction in another liner layer.

For example, in some variations where a body liner comprises a topsheet, the top sheet may be configured to have a wicking rate in the topsheet in the third direction that is greater than a wicking rate in thetop sheet in the first direction and greater than a wicking rate in thetop sheet in the second direction. In these variations, fluid may betransferred across the thickness of the top sheet more quickly than itspreads across the body liner, which may allow for effective transfer offluid from the top sheet to one or more additional liner layers (e.g., acore member and/or a back sheet). In some of these variations thewicking rate in the first direction may be greater than the wicking ratein the second direction, or vice versa. In others of these variations,the wicking rate in the first direction may be equal to wicking rate inthe second direction.

In other variations, the top sheet may be configured to have a wickingrate in the top sheet in the third direction that is less than a wickingrate in the top sheet in the first direction and less than a wickingrate in the top sheet in the second direction. In these variations,absorbed fluid may spread across the top sheet faster than it istransferred across the thickness of the top sheet. In some of thesevariations the wicking rate in the first direction may be greater thanthe wicking rate in the second direction, or vice versa. In others ofthese variations, the wicking rate in the first direction may be equalto wicking rate in the second direction.

In still other variations the top sheet may be configured to have awicking rate in the top sheet in a third direction that is less than awicking rate in the top sheet in a first direction and greater than awicking rate in the top sheet in a second direction. In yet othervariations, the top sheet may be configured to have a wicking rate inthe top sheet in a third direction that is equal to the wicking rate inthe top sheet in the first direction. In some of these variations, thetop sheet may be configured such that a wicking rate in the top sheet inthe second direction is greater than the wicking rates in the first andthird directions. In others of these variations, the top sheet may beconfigured such that a wicking rate in the top sheet in the seconddirection is less than the wicking rates in the first and thirddirections. In still other variations, the top sheet may be configuredto uniformly distribute fluid within the top sheet (i.e., the top sheetmay be configured such that a wicking rate in the top sheet in the thirddirection is equal to a wicking rate in the top sheet in the firstdirection and a wicking rate in the top sheet in a second direction).

In some variations where a body liner comprises a core member, the coremember may be configured to have a wicking rate in the core member inthe third direction that is greater than a wicking rate in the coremember in the first direction and greater than a wicking rate in thecore member in the second direction (which may prioritize absorptionthrough the thickness of the core member over spreading of the fluidsample across the core member, such as discussed above). In some ofthese variations the wicking rate in the first direction may be greaterthan the wicking rate in the second direction, or vice versa. In othersof these variations, the wicking rate in the first direction may beequal to wicking rate in the second direction.

In other variations, the core member may be configured to have a wickingrate in the core member in the third direction that is less than awicking rate in the core member in the first direction and less than awicking rate in the core member in the second direction (which mayprioritize spread of the fluid over absorption across the thickness ofthe core member). In some of these variations the wicking rate in thefirst direction may be greater than the wicking rate in the seconddirection, or vice versa. In others of these variations, the wickingrate in the first direction may be the same as the wicking rate in thesecond direction.

In still other variations the core member may be configured to have awicking rate in the core member in a third direction that is less than awicking rate in the core member in a first direction and greater than awicking rate in the core member in a second direction. In yet othervariations, the core member may be configured to have a wicking rate inthe core member in a third direction that is equal to the wicking ratein the core member in the first direction. In some of these variations,the core member may be configured such that a wicking rate in the coremember in the second direction is greater than the wicking rates in thefirst and third directions. In others of these variations, the coremember may be configured such that a wicking rate in the core member inthe second direction is less than the wicking rates in the first andthird directions. In still other variations, the core member may beconfigured to evenly distribute fluid (e.g., may be configured such thata wicking rate in the core member in the third direction is equal tothat a wicking rate in the core member in the first direction and awicking rate in the core member in a second direction).

In some variations where a body liner comprises a back sheet, the backsheet may be configured to have a wicking rate in the back sheet in thethird direction that is greater than a wicking rate in the back sheet inthe first direction and greater than a wicking rate in the back sheet inthe second direction (which may prioritize absorption through thethickness of the back sheet over spreading of the fluid sample acrossthe core member, such as discussed above). In some of these variationsthe wicking rate in the first direction may be greater than the wickingrate in the second direction, or vice versa. In others of thesevariations, the wicking rate in the first direction may be the same asthe wicking rate in the second direction.

In other variations, the back sheet may be configured to have a wickingrate in the back sheet in the third direction that is less than awicking rate in the back sheet in the first direction and less than awicking rate in the back sheet in the second direction (which mayprioritize spread of the fluid across the back sheet over absorptionthrough the thickness of the back sheet). In some of these variations,the wicking rate in the first direction may be greater than the wickingrate in the second direction, or vice versa. In others of thesevariations, the wicking rate in the first direction may be equal towicking rate in the second direction.

In still other variations the back sheet may be configured to have awicking rate in the back sheet in a third direction that is less than awicking rate in the back sheet in a first direction and greater than awicking rate in the back sheet in a second direction. In yet othervariations, the back sheet may be configured to have a wicking rate inthe back sheet in a third direction that is the same as the wicking ratein the back sheet in the first direction. In some of these variations,the back sheet may be configured such that a wicking rate in the backsheet in the second direction is greater than the wicking rates in thefirst and third directions. In others of these variations, the backsheet may be configured such that a wicking rate in the back sheet inthe second direction is less than the wicking rates in the first andthird directions. In still other variations, the back sheet may beconfigured to evenly distribute fluid (e.g., may be configured such thata wicking rate in the back sheet in the third direction is equal to thata wicking rate in the back sheet in the first direction and a wickingrate in the back sheet in a second direction.

When the body liners described here comprise a plurality of liner layers(e.g., a top sheet and a core member, a top sheet and a back sheet, or atop sheet, a core member, and a back sheet), the liner layers may beconfigured to transfer fluid in any combination of manners describedabove. For example, in some variations where a body liner comprises atop sheet, a back sheet, and a core member, the top sheet may beconfigured to have a wicking rate in the top sheet in the thirddirection that is greater than a wicking rate in the top sheet in thefirst direction and greater than a wicking rate in the top sheet in thesecond direction. Similarly, the back sheet may be configured to have awicking rate in the back sheet in the third direction that is greaterthan a wicking rate in the back sheet in the first direction and greaterthan a wicking rate in the back sheet in the second direction. In someof these variations, both the top sheet and the back sheet may beconfigured to have wicking rates in the top sheet and back sheet,respectively, in the first direction that are greater than the wickingrates in the top sheet and back sheet, respectively, in the seconddirection. In others of these variations, the top sheet may beconfigured to have a greater wicking rate in the top sheet in the firstdirection than a wicking rate in the second direction and the back sheetmay be configured to distribute fluidly evenly between the first andsecond directions, or vice versa. The core member may be configured todistribute fluid evenly within the core (e.g., the core member may beconfigured to have equal wicking rates in each of the first, second, andthird directions) or may be configured to selectively transfer fluidsuch as described in more detail above. In some variations, the coremember may be configured to have a wicking rate in the core member inthe third direction that is greater than a wicking rate in the coremember in the first direction and greater than a wicking rate in thecore member in the second direction. The wicking rates in a givendirection (e.g., in the third direction) in each of the top sheet, backsheet, and core member may all be the same, or may be different.

In some instances, it may be desirable to configure the body linersdescribed here such that fluid spreads faster in the body liner (i.e.,within the plane of the body liner, in the first and second directionsas described above) near the rear surface than it spreads near thebody-facing surface. In these instances, when an ABL load contacts andis absorbed by the body liner, a larger portion of the fluid load willbe absorbed and retained near the rear surface of the body liner. Theabsorbed bowel leakage may be more concentrated toward the rear surfaceof the body liner (which is folded over itself) and may result in asmaller visible soiled “spot” on the body-facing surface of the bodyliner, which may provide the wearer with an additional sense of securityand reduce the likelihood that fecal matter absorbed by the body linermay rub off against the skin during removal of the body liner. Invariations where the body liner comprises a single liner layer, theliner layer may be configured to spread fluid in the plane of the linerlayer faster toward the rear surface than it spreads fluid near thebody-facing surface. For example, the liner layer is formed from one ormore non-woven materials, the fibers of the liner layer may have ahigher distribution of horizontally-oriented fibers near the rearsurface than near the body-facing surface, which promote spreading nearthe rear surface. In variations where the body liner comprises aplurality of liner layers, different liner layers may be configured tospread fluid at different rates. For example, in variations where thebody liner comprises a top sheet, a core member, and optionally a backsheet, the core member may be configured to spread fluid in the plane ofthe body liner faster than the top sheet spreads fluid in the plane ofthe body liner. In variations where the body liner comprises a backsheet, the back sheet may be configured to spread fluid in the plane ofthe body liner faster than the top sheet and/or core member spreadsfluid.

Body Liner Shape

The body liners described here may have any suitable shape, such as, forexample, a circular or oval shape, a rectangular shape, a triangularshape, an hourglass shape, a lobed shape (e.g., a butterfly shape), anirregular shape, combinations thereof and the like. It should beappreciated that regardless of the shape of the body liner, the bodyliner may be configured to have any combination of features and linerlayers described hereinthroughout. The overall shape of the body linermay be a factor of the shape of some or all of the liner layers. Forexample, in variations where a body liner comprises a single linerlayer, the shape of the body liner may be the same as the shape of thesingle liner layer. In variations where a body liner comprises aplurality of liner layers, the shape of the body liner may be dependenton how the individual liner layers are positioned with respect to eachother. For example, in some instances the largest liner layer may definethe overall shape of the body liner. In other instances where two ormore liner layers partially overlap, the overall shape of the body linermay be defined by the two or more liner layers.

As mentioned above, in some variations, the body liners may have acircular or oval shape. For example, FIGS. 3A-3E depict variations of abody liner having an oval shape. Specifically, FIG. 3A shows a top viewof body liner (300) having an oval shape. As shown there, body liner(300) may have a longitudinal axis (306) and a lateral axis (304)perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (306) and intersecting thelongitudinal axis (306) at a target point (308). When the body liner(300) is placed at least partially within the intergluteal cleft thebody liner (300) may be folded along the longitudinal axis (306) toposition the target point (308) at or near the opening of the anus.While the target point (308) is shown in FIG. 3A as being positioned atthe center of the body liner (300), it should be appreciated that thetarget point (308) may be positioned at any suitable location on thebody liner. Additionally, while the longitudinal axis (306) is shown inFIGS. 3A-3E as positioned along the minor axis of the overall oval shapeof the body liner (300), it should be appreciated that the longitudinalaxis (306) may be positioned along any suitable portion of the bodyliner. The body liner (300) may comprise one or more adhesive regions(not shown), as will be described in more detail below.

Generally, the body liner (300) may be sized such that when placed atleast partially within the intergluteal cleft, at least a portion of thebody liner (300) may extend out of the intergluteal cleft. For example,FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional side view of a person with the bodyliner (300) placed partially within the intergluteal cleft (309). Asshown there, the body liner (300) may be positioned such that the targetpoint (308) is positioned at or near the anus (311) and the body liner(300) is folded substantially along the longitudinal axis (306). Whenpositioned as shown in FIG. 3B, at least a portion of the body liner(300) extends outside of the intergluteal cleft (309). Generally, theexposed portion of the body liner (300) may extend far enough outsidethe intergluteal cleft enough to allow a wearer to grasp the body liner(300), but not so far that the body liner (300) is snagged by clothing,such as described in more detail above.

The body liner (300) shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B may be made from one ormore liner layers. For example, FIG. 3C shows a cross-sectional sideview (taken along the longitudinal axis (306)) of a variation of thebody liner (300) in which the body liner (300) comprises a single linerlayer (310). In these variations, overall oval shape of the body liner(300) may be defined by the oval shape of the liner layer (310).Additionally, a body-facing side of the liner layer (310) may form thebody-facing surface (312) of the body liner (300) and an opposite rearside of the liner layer (310) may form the rear surface (314) of thebody liner (300). It should be appreciated that the body-facing surface(312) and rear surface (314) of the body liner (300) may be configuredto have any respective coefficients of friction, such as described inmore detail below.

The liner layer (310) may be configured to absorb fluid, such asdescribed in more detail above. In some variations, the liner layer(310) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid as describedabove. For example, in some variations, the liner layer (310) may beconfigured to transfer fluid across the thickness of a body liner (e.g.,in a “third direction” as discussed above, which may perpendicular toboth the longitudinal axis (306) and the lateral axis (304)) at awicking rate that is greater than wicking rates at which fluid istransferred within the plane of the body liner (e.g., in a “firstdirection” and “second direction” as discussed above). When the bodyliner (300) is folded over the longitudinal axis (306), a greaterwicking rate across the thickness of the body liner (300) may promotetransfer of fluid from a contact point on the body-facing surface (312)of the body liner on one side of the fold to the rear surface (314) onthat side of the fold, and may further promote transfer from the rearsurface (314) to a contacting rear surface (314) on the opposite side ofthe fold, as described in more detail above. Additionally oralternatively, the liner layer (310) may be configured to transfer fluidin a first direction in the plane of the body liner (300) at a wickingrate that is faster than the wicking rate in a second direction in theplane of the body liner (300) that is perpendicular to the firstdirection. For example, in some variations, the liner layer (310) may beconfigured to transfer fluid in a first direction parallel to thelongitudinal axis (306) at a wicking rate that is faster than a wickingrate in a second direction parallel to the lateral axis (304). When thebody liner (300) is placed at least partially in the intergluteal cleftas shown in FIG. 3B, fluid absorbed by the body liner (300) must travelparallel to the lateral axis (304) in order to reach the portions of thebody liner (300) extending from the intergluteal cleft. Accordingly,having a faster wicking rate along the longitudinal axis (306) than awicking rate along the lateral axis (304) may reduce the amount of fluidthat the liner layer (302) transmits along the lateral axis (304) towardthe portion of the exposed portions of the body liner (300), which mayhelp prevent the wearer from grabbing a soiled portion of the body liner(300) during removal of the body liner.

In other variations, the body liners described here may comprise two ormore liner layers. For example, FIG. 3D shows a variation of body liner(300) in which the body liner is formed from a top sheet (316) and acore member (318) in contact with the top sheet (316). In somevariations, the top sheet (316) and core member (318) may be the onlyliner layers of the body liner (300). The top sheet (316) and coremember (318) may be any combination of top sheet and core member, suchas those described in more detail above. In these variations, the topsheet (316) and core member (318) may have the same oval shape, whichmay be the overall shape of the body liner (300). As shown in FIG. 3D, abody-facing side of the top sheet (316) may form the body-facing surface(312) of the body liner (300) and a rear side of the core member mayform the rear surface (314) of the body liner (300).

The top sheet (316) and/or core member (318) may be configured to befluid absorbent, such as described in more detail above. In somevariations, both the top sheet (316) and the core member (318) areconfigured to be fluid absorbent. In some variations, one or both of thetop sheet (316) and core member (318) may be configured to selectivelytransfer fluid within the respective liner layers, such as describedabove. For example, in some variations, the top sheet (316) may beconfigured to transfer fluid across the thickness of a top sheet (316)(e.g., in a “third direction”, which may be perpendicular to both thelongitudinal axis (306) and the lateral axis (304)) at a wicking ratethat is greater than wicking rates at which fluid is transferred withinthe plane of the top sheet (e.g., in a “first direction” and “seconddirection” as discussed above). This may promote transfer of fluidthrough the thickness of the top sheet (316) and into the core member(318). In some of these variations, the core member (318) may beconfigured to transfer fluid across the thickness of a core member (318)at a wicking rate that is greater than wicking rates at which fluid istransferred within the plane of the core member (318). When the bodyliner (300) is folded over the longitudinal axis (306), a greaterwicking rate across the thickness of the core member (318) may promotetransfer of fluid from between portions of the rear surface (314) oneither side of the fold via rear surface-to-rear surface contact. Inother variations, the core member (318) may be configured to distributefluid evenly through the core member (318).

In some variations, the top sheet (316) may be configured to transferfluid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (306) at awicking rate that is faster than a wicking rate in a direction parallelto the lateral axis (304). In these variations, fluid absorbed by thetop sheet (316) may be less likely to reach portions of the body liner(300) extending from the intergluteal cleft, such as described above.Additionally or alternatively, the core member (318) may be configuredto transfer fluid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (306)at a wicking rate that is faster than a wicking rate in a directionparallel to the lateral axis (304). In these variations, fluid absorbedby the core member (318) may be less likely to reach portions of thebody (300).

In other variations, the body liner (300) may comprise three or moreliner layers. For example, FIG. 3E shows a variation of body liner (300)in which the body liner may be formed from a top sheet (316), a coremember (318) in contact with the top sheet (316), and a back sheet (320)in contact with the core member (318). In some variations, the top sheet(316), core member (318), and back sheet (320) may be the only linerlayers of the body liner (300). The top sheet (316), core member (318),and back sheet (320) may include any combination of top sheets, coremembers, and back sheets, such as those described in more detail above.In the variation shown in FIG. 3E, the top sheet (316), core member(318), and back sheet (320) may each have the same oval shape, which maybe the same overall size and shape of the body liner (300). As shownthere, a body-facing side of the top sheet (316) may form thebody-facing surface (312) of the body liner (300) while a rear side ofthe back sheet (320) may form the rear surface (314) of the body liner(300). It should be appreciated that the body-facing surface (312) andrear surface (314) of the body liner (300) may be configured to have anyrespective coefficients of friction, such as described in more detailbelow.

The top sheet (316), core member (318), and/or back sheet (320) may beconfigured to be fluid absorbent, such as described in more detailabove. In some variations, each of the top sheet (316), the core member(318), and back sheet (320) may be configured to be fluid absorbent.Some or all of the top sheet (316), core member (318), and back sheet(320) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid as describedabove. For example, in some variations, the top sheet (316) may beconfigured to transfer fluid across the thickness of a top sheet (316)(e.g., in a “third direction”, which may be perpendicular to both thelongitudinal axis (306) and the lateral axis (304)) at a wicking ratethat is greater than wicking rates at which fluid is transferred withinthe plane of the top sheet (e.g., in a “first direction” and “seconddirection” as discussed above). This may promote quicker transfer offluid through the thickness of the top sheet (316) and to the coremember (318). In some of these variations, the core member (318) may beconfigured to transfer fluid across the thickness of a core member (318)at a wicking rate that is greater than a wicking rate or rates at whichfluid is transferred within the plane of the core member (318), whichmay promote quicker transfer of fluid through the thickness of the coremember (318) and to the back sheet (320). In some variations, the coremember (318) may be configured to distribute fluid absorbed by the coremember (318) evenly though the core member. In some variations, the backsheet (320) may also be configured to transfer fluid across thethickness of the back sheet (320) at a wicking rate that is greater thanwicking rates at which fluid is transferred within the plane of the backsheet (320). When the body liner (300) is folded over the longitudinalaxis (306), a greater wicking rate across the thickness of the backsheet (320) may promote transfer of fluid through the thickness of theback sheet (320) and transfer of fluid to a portion of the back sheet(320) on the opposite side of the fold via back sheet-to-back sheetcontact.

In some variations, the top sheet (316) may be configured to transferfluid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (306) at awicking rate that is faster than a wicking rate in a direction parallelto the lateral axis (304). Additionally or alternatively, the coremember (318) may be configured to transfer fluid in a direction parallelto the longitudinal axis (306) at a wicking rate that is faster than awicking rate in a direction parallel to the lateral axis (304).Additionally or alternatively, the back sheet (320) may be configured totransfer fluid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (306) ata wicking rate that is faster than a wicking rate in a directionparallel to the lateral axis (304). In these variations, having a fasterwicking rate parallel to the longitudinal axis in some or all of the topsheet, back sheet, and core member may reduce the likelihood theabsorbed fluid will reach portions of the body liner (300) extendingfrom the intergluteal cleft.

In some variations, the body liners may comprise a target zone which mayhave one or more different properties than surrounding portions of thebody liner. For example, FIG. 4A shows a top view of body liner (400)having an oval shape and a target zone (401). As shown there, body liner(400) may have a longitudinal axis (406) and a lateral axis (404)perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (406) and intersecting thelongitudinal axis (406) at a target point (408). When the body liner(400) is placed at least partially into the intergluteal cleft, such asdescribed above with respect to body liner (300) in FIG. 3B, the bodyliner (400) may be folded along the longitudinal axis (406) to positionthe target point (408) at or near the anus. While the target point (408)is shown in FIG. 4A as being positioned at the center of the body liner(400), it should be appreciated that the target point (408) may bepositioned at any suitable location on the body liner. Additionally,while the longitudinal axis (406) is shown in FIG. 4A as positionedalong the minor axis of the oval, it should be appreciated that thelongitudinal axis (406) may be positioned along any suitable portion ofthe body liner. The body liner (400) may comprise one or more adhesiveregions (not shown), as will be described in more detail below.

Generally, the body liner (400) may be sized such that when placed atleast partially within the intergluteal cleft, at least a portion of thebody liner (400) may extend out of the intergluteal cleft. The bodyliner (400) may be positioned in the intergluteal cleft such asdescribed above with respect to the body liner (300) shown in FIG. 3B.When so positioned, at least a portion of the body liner (400) mayextend outside of the intergluteal cleft. Generally, the exposed portionof the body liner (400) extends far enough outside the interglutealcleft enough to allow a wearer to grasp the body liner (400), but not sofar that the body liner (400) is snagged by clothing, such as describedin more detail above.

As mentioned previously, the body liner (400) may include a target zone(401). The target zone (401) may at least partially surround the targetpoint (408) and may be configured to receive a load of anal leakage andabsorb fluid therefrom. Generally, the target zone (401) may have anysuitable size and shape such as described above. While shown in FIG. 4Aas being oval in shape, the target zone (401) may have any suitableshape (e.g., a circle shape, a rectangular shape, an irregular shape orthe like). When the target zone (401) is oval in shape, a major axis ofthe oval target zone (401) may be aligned parallel to the longitudinalaxis (406). In other variations, the target zone (401) may be positionedsuch that the major axis of the oval target zone (401) is angledrelative to the longitudinal axis (406) (e.g., perpendicular tolongitudinal axis (406) or the like). Generally the target zone (401)may be sized such that it may fit entirely within the intergluteal cleftwhen the body liner (400) is placed as discussed above with respect tothe variation of body liner (300) shown above in FIG. 3B. FIG. 4E showsanother variation of the body liner (400) in which the target zone (401)is formed as a strip (480) that spans a length of the liner. In thevariation shown in FIG. 4E, the strip (480) spans a height of the lineralong the longitudinal axis (406), although it should be appreciatedthat in other instances the strip (480) may span a width of the liner(e.g., along the lateral axis (404)). In instances where the body liner(400) comprises a core member that defines the size and shape of thetarget zone (401), as will be discussed in detail below, the core membermay be sized and shaped as the strip (480) shown in FIG. 4E.

The body liner (400) shown in FIG. 4A may be made from one or more linerlayers. For example, FIG. 4B shows a cross-sectional side view (takenalong the longitudinal axis (406)) of a variation of the body liner(400) in which the body liner (400) is formed from a single liner layer(410). In these variations, the liner layer (410) may have an oval shapethat defines the overall shape of the body liner (400). Additionally, abody-facing side of the liner layer (410) may form the body-facingsurface (412) of the body liner (400) and an opposite rear side of theliner layer (410) may form the rear surface (414) of the body liner(400). The body-facing surface (412) and/or rear surface (414) of thebody liner (400) may be configured to have any respective coefficientsof friction, such as described in more detail below.

The liner layer (410) may be configured to absorb fluid, such asdescribed in more detail above. In some of these variations, the targetzone (401) may have a different absorbency than surrounding portions ofthe body liner (400). In some of these variations, the absorbency of thetarget zone (401) may be greater than the absorbency of the surroundingportions of the body liner (400). For example, in some variations, thetarget zone (401) may be formed from a different material than thesurrounding portions of the liner layer. Additionally or alternatively,the target zone (401) may be embedded with one or more absorbentmaterials, such as one or more super absorbent polymers, such asdescribed in more detail above.

In some variations, the liner layer (410) may be configured toselectively transfer fluid, such as described above with respect to thevariation of liner layer (310) shown in FIG. 3C. It should beappreciated that a wicking rate in a particular direction in the targetzone (401) may be different than a wicking rate in the same direction insurrounding portions of the body liner (400). For example, in somevariations the target zone (401) may be configured to transfer fluidwithin the target zone (401) faster than it is transferred within thesurrounding portions of the body liner (400). In these instances, fasterwicking within the target zone (401) may cause the target zone (401) toabsorb more fluid than the surrounding portions of the body liner (400),which may limit the amount of fluid that may reach the periphery of thebody liner (400).

In other variations, the body liners (400) may comprise two or moreliner layers. For example, FIG. 4C shows a variation of the body liner(400) in which the body liner may be formed from a top sheet (416) and acore member (418) in contact with and attached to the top sheet (416).In some variations, the top sheet (416) and core member (418) may be theonly liner layers of the body liner (400). The top sheet (416) and coremember (418) may be any combination of top sheets and core members, suchas those described in more detail above. In some of these variations,the top sheet (416) may have an oval shape that defines the overall sizeand shape of the body liner (400). In some variations, the core member(418) may be the same size and shape as the target zone (401), such thatcore member (418) may define the overall size and shape of the targetzone (401). In these variations, the core member (418) may be anysuitable size such as described in more detail above. In the variationshown in FIG. 4C, a body-facing side of the top sheet (416) may form thebody-facing surface (412) of the body liner (400). The rear surface(414) of the body liner (400) may be formed from a combination of therear side of core member (418) and the portion of the rear side of thetop sheet (416) that is not covered by the core member (418). Thebody-facing surface (412) and/or rear surface (414) of the body liner(400) may be configured to have any respective coefficients of friction,such as described in more detail below.

The top sheet (416) and/or core member (418) may be configured to befluid absorbent, such as described in more detail above. In somevariations, both the top sheet (416) and the core member (418) areconfigured to be fluid absorbent. In these variations, the addition ofthe core member (418) to the target zone (401) may increase theabsorbance of the body liner (400) in the target zone (401) relative tothe surrounding portions of the body liner (400). The absorbency of thebody liner (400) in the target zone (401) may be further modified bymodification of the body liner materials in the target zone (401) and/orinclusion of one or more absorbent materials, such as describedimmediately above.

In some variations, one or both of the top sheet (416) and core member(418) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid as described inmore detail above. For example, the top sheet (416) may be configured toselectively transfer fluid in any manner such as those described abovewith respect to top sheet (316) depicted in FIG. 3D, while the coremember (418) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid in anymanner such as those described above with respect to core member (318)depicted in FIG. 3D. In some variations, the core member (418) may beconfigured to distribute fluid more quickly than the top sheet (416). Inthese variations, fluid absorbed by the body liner (e.g., through thetop sheet (316)) may be distributed more in the core member than the topsheet, which may reduce the likelihood the fluid reaches the peripheryof the body liner (400).

In other variations, the body liner (400) may comprise three or moreliner layers. For example, FIG. 4D shows a variation of body liner (400)in which the body liner is formed from a top sheet (416), a back sheet(420), and a core member (418) positioned between the top sheet (416)and the back sheet (420). In some variations, the top sheet (416), coremember (418), and back sheet (420) may be the only liner layers of thebody liner (400). The top sheet (416), core member (418), and back sheet(420) may be any combination of top sheets, core members, and backsheets, such as those described in more detail above. In the variationshown in FIG. 4D, the top sheet (416) and the back sheet (418) may eachhave the same oval shape, which may define the overall shape of the bodyliner (400). The core member (418) may be the same size and shape as thetarget zone (401), such that core member (418) may define the overallsize and shape of the target zone (401). As shown in FIG. 4D, abody-facing side of the top sheet (416) may form the body-facing surface(412) of the body liner (400) while a rear side of the back sheet (420)may form the rear surface (414) of the body liner (400). Additionally, abody-facing side of the liner layer (410) may form the body-facingsurface (412) of the body liner (400) and an opposite rear side of theliner layer (410) may form the rear surface (414) of the body liner(400). The body-facing surface (412) and/or rear surface (414) of thebody liner (400) may be configured to have any respective coefficientsof friction, such as described in more detail below.

The top sheet (416), core member (418), and/or back sheet (420) may beconfigured to be fluid absorbent, such as described in more detailabove. In some of these variations, each of the top sheet (416), thecore member (418), and back sheet (420) may be configured to be fluidabsorbent. In these variations, the addition of the core member (418) tothe target zone (401) may increase the absorbance of the body liner(400) in the target zone (401) relative to the surrounding portions ofthe body liner (400), which may include only the top sheet (416) and theback sheet (420). The absorbency of the body liner (400) in the targetzone (401) may be further modified by altering the materials of theliner layers in the target zone (401) and/or inclusion of one or moreabsorbent materials, such as described immediately above.

In some variations, one, two, or each of the top sheet (416), coremember (418), and back sheet (420) may be configured to selectivelytransfer fluid as described in more detail above. For example, the topsheet (416) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid in anymanner such as those described above with respect to top sheet (316)depicted in FIG. 3D, while the core member (418) may be configured toselectively transfer fluid in any manner such as those described abovewith respect to core member (318) depicted in FIG. 3D, and the backsheet (420) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid in anymanner such as those described above with respect to the back sheet(320) depicted in FIG. 3D. In some variations, the core member (418) maybe configured to distribute fluid more quickly than the top sheet (416)and the back sheet (420). In these variations, fluid absorbed by thebody liner (e.g., through the top sheet (316)) may be distributed morein the core member than the top sheet and back sheet, which may reducethe likelihood the fluid reaches the periphery of the body liner (400)(e.g., by spreading past the target zone (401) into surrounding portionsof the body liner (400)).

While the top sheet (416) and back sheet (420) are shown in FIG. 4C ashaving the same size and shape, it should be appreciated that the topsheet (416) and back sheet (420) may have a different size and/or shape.For example, FIG. 5A shows a top view of body liner (500) having anoverall oval shape and a target zone (501). As shown there, body liner(500) may have a longitudinal axis (506) and a lateral axis (504)perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (506) and intersecting thelongitudinal axis (506) at a target point (508). When the body liner(500) is placed at least partially into the intergluteal cleft, such asdescribed above with respect to the body liner (300) depicted in FIG.3B, the body liner (500) may be folded along the longitudinal axis (506)to position the target point (508) at or near the anus. While the targetpoint (508) is shown in FIG. 5A as being positioned at the center of thebody liner (500), it should be appreciated that the target point (508)may be positioned at any suitable location on the body liner.Additionally, while the longitudinal axis (506) is shown in FIG. 5A aspositioned along the minor axis of the oval, it should be appreciatedthat the longitudinal axis (506) may be positioned along any suitableportion of the body liner. The body liner (500) may comprise one or moreadhesive regions (not shown), as will be described in more detail below.Generally, the body liner (500) may be sized such that when placed atleast partially within the intergluteal cleft, at least a portion of thebody liner (500) may extend out of the intergluteal cleft, such asdescribed in more detail above. In some variations, the exposed portionof the body liner (500) extends far enough outside the interglutealcleft enough to allow a wearer to grasp the body liner (500), but not sofar that the body liner (500) is snagged by clothing.

As mentioned above, the body liner (500) may include a target zone(501). The target zone (501) may at least partially surround the targetpoint (508) and may be configured to receive a load of anal leakage andabsorb fluid therefrom. Generally, the target zone (901) may have anysuitable size and shape such as described above. While shown in FIG. 5Aas being oval in shape, the target zone (501) may have any suitableshape (e.g., a circle shape, a rectangular shape, an irregular shape orthe like). When the target zone (501) is oval in shape, a major axis ofthe oval target zone (501) may be aligned parallel to the longitudinalaxis (506). In other variations, the target zone (501) may be positionedsuch that the major axis of the oval target zone (501) is angledrelative to the longitudinal axis (506) (e.g., perpendicular tolongitudinal axis (506) or the like).

The body liner (500) shown in FIG. 5A may comprise three layers,including a top sheet (516), a core member (518), and a back sheet(520), as shown in a cross-sectional side view (taken along thelongitudinal axis (506)) in FIG. 5B. In some variations, the top sheet(516), core member (518), and back sheet (520) may be the only linerlayers of the body liner (500). The top sheet (516), core member (518),and back sheet (520) may be any combination of top sheets, core members,and back sheets, such as those described in more detail above. In thevariation shown in FIG. 5B, the top sheet (516) have an oval shape,which may define the overall shape of the body liner (500) and the coremember (518) may be the same size and shape as the target zone (501),such that core member (518) may define the overall size and shape of thetarget zone (501). In these variations, the back sheet (520) may have ashape larger than the target zone (501) yet smaller than that of the topsheet (516), such that the back sheet (520) may enclose the core member(518) between the top sheet (516) and the back sheet (520). The backsheet (520) and top sheet (516) may be connected in any suitable manner,such as described in more detail above. In these variations, abody-facing side of the top sheet (516) may form the body-facing surface(512) of the body liner (500). The rear surface (514) of the body liner(500) may be formed by a combination of a rear side of the back sheet(520) and the portions of the rear side of the top sheet (520) which arenot covered by the back sheet (520).

The size and shape of the back sheet (520) may define the size and shapeof a second zone (503) as indicated in FIG. 5A. While shown in FIG. 5Aas being oval, the back sheet (520) (and with it, the second zone (503))may have any suitable shape (e.g., a circle, a rectangle, an irregularshape, or the like). The second zone (503) may at least partiallysurround the target zone (501), and may have different properties fromthe target zone (501) and/or surrounding portions of the body liner(500), as will be described in more detail below.

The top sheet (516), core member (518), and/or back sheet (520) may beconfigured to be fluid absorbent. In some variations, each of the topsheet (516), the core member (518), and back sheet (520) may beconfigured to be fluid absorbent. In these variations, the inclusion ofthe top sheet (516), the core member (518), and the back sheet (520) inthe target zone (501) may allow for greater absorbency in the targetzone (501) relative to the second zone (503) (which may include just thetop sheet (516) and the back sheet (520), which in turn may have greaterabsorbency than the surrounding portions of the body liner (500) (whichmay include just the top sheet (516). The absorbency of the body liner(500) in the target zone (501), the second zone (503), and/or thesurrounding portions of the body liner may be further modified bymodification of the materials in one or more of the liner layers and/orthe inclusion of one or more absorbent materials in one or more of theliner layers, such as described in more detail above. It should also beappreciated any or all of the top sheet (516), core member (518), andback sheet (520) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid, andmay be configured to do so in any manner or combination of manners asdescribed in more detail above.

While the oval body liners depicted in FIGS. 3A-3E, 4A-4D, and 5A and 5Bare shown in those figures as having a minor axis of the overall ovalshape of the body liner aligned with a longitudinal axis of the bodyliner, it should be appreciated that in other instances the longitudinalaxis may be aligned in any suitable manner relative to the body liner.For example, FIG. 6A a first variation of a body liner (600) having anoval shape, and having a longitudinal axis (602) and lateral axis (604)intersecting the longitudinal axis (602) at a target point (606). Asshown there, a major axis of the overall oval shape of the body linermay be aligned with the longitudinal axis (602). The body liner (600)may be include any number of liner layers and may be configured in anysuitable manner, such as described above with respect to FIGS. 3A-3E.When the body liner (600) is folded along the longitudinal axis (602)and placed in the intergluteal cleft (608) to position the target point(606) at or near the anus (609), the body liner (600) may be sized suchthat a portion of the body liner (600) extends outside of interglutealcleft (608), as depicted in FIG. 6B. As shown there, the portions of thebody liner (600) that extend outside of the intergluteal cleft at one orboth ends of the body liner (600) along the longitudinal axis (602). Invariations where the body liner (600) (or one or more liner layersthereof) is configured to selectively transfer fluid in the plane of thebody liner (600) (or one or more liner layers thereof), it may bedesirable to configure the body liner (600) (or one or more liner layersthereof) to transfer fluid along the lateral axis (604) at a fasterwicking rate than a wicking rate long the longitudinal axis (602). Inthese variations, more fluid may be transferred along the lateral axis(604) than the longitudinal axis (606), which may reduce the likelihoodthat fluid absorbed by the body liner (600) will reach the portions ofthe body liner (600) extending from the intergluteal cleft.

Similarly, FIG. 6C shows a variation of a body liner (610) having anoval shape and a target zone (601). The body liner may have alongitudinal axis (602) and lateral axis (604) intersecting thelongitudinal axis (602) at a target point (606), and may be configuredin any suitable manner such as those described above with respect to thevariations of the body liner (400) depicted in FIGS. 4A-4D, except thatthe major axis of the overall oval shape of body liner (610) is alignedwith the longitudinal axis (602) (instead of being aligned with thelateral axis, such as shown in FIG. 4A). Again, in these variations, itmay be desirable to configure the body liner (600) (or one or more linerlayers thereof) to transfer fluid along the lateral axis (604) at afaster wicking rate than a wicking rate long the longitudinal axis(602).

FIG. 6D shows a variation of a body liner (620) having an oval shape anda target zone (601) and a second zone (603). The body liner may have alongitudinal axis (602) and lateral axis (604) intersecting thelongitudinal axis (602) at a target point (606), and may be configuredin any suitable manner such as those described above with respect to thevariations of the body liner (500) depicted in FIGS. 5A-5D, except thatthe major axis of the overall oval shape of body liner (610) is alignedwith the longitudinal axis (602) (instead of being aligned with thelateral axis, such as shown in FIG. 5A). Again, in these variations, itmay be desirable to configure the body liner (600) (or one or more linerlayers thereof) to transfer fluid along the lateral axis (604) at afaster wicking rate than a wicking rate long the longitudinal axis(602).

As mentioned above, in some variations, the body liners may have arectangular shape. For example, FIGS. 7A-7E depict variations of a bodyliner having a rectangular shape. Specifically, FIG. 7A shows a top viewof body liner (700) having a rectangular shape. As shown there, bodyliner (700) may have a longitudinal axis (706) and a lateral axis (704)perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (706) and intersecting thelongitudinal axis (706) at a target point (708). When the body liner(700) is placed at least partially into the intergluteal cleft the bodyliner (700) may be folded along the longitudinal axis (706) to positionthe target point (708) at or near the opening of the anus. While thetarget point (708) is shown in FIG. 7A as being positioned at the centerof the body liner (700), it should be appreciated that the target point(708) may be positioned at any suitable location on the body liner.Additionally, while the body liner (700) shown in FIGS. 7A-7E as havinga height along the longitudinal axis (706) that is less than a widthalong the lateral axis (704), it should be appreciated that in someinstances the body liner (700) may have equal height and width, or mayhave a width along the lateral axis (704) that is greater than a heightalong the longitudinal axis (706). The body liner (700) may comprise oneor more adhesive regions (not shown), as will be described in moredetail below.

Generally, the body liner (700) may be sized such that when placed atleast partially within the intergluteal cleft, at least a portion of thebody liner (700) may extend out of the intergluteal cleft. For example,FIG. 7B shows the body liner (700) placed partially within theintergluteal cleft (709). As shown there, the body liner (700) may bepositioned such that the target point (708) is positioned at or near theanus (711) and the body liner (700) is folded along the longitudinalaxis (706). When positioned as shown in FIG. 7B, at least a portion ofthe body liner (700) extends outside of the intergluteal cleft (709).Generally, the exposed portion of the body liner (700) may extend farenough outside the intergluteal cleft enough to allow a wearer to graspthe body liner (700), but not so far that the body liner (700) issnagged by clothing, such as described in more detail above.

The body liner (700) shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B may be made from one ormore liner layers. For example, FIG. 7C shows a cross-sectional sideview (taken along the longitudinal axis (706)) of a variation of thebody liner (700) in which the body liner (700) comprises a single linerlayer (710). In these variations, overall rectangular shape of the bodyliner (700) may be defined by the rectangular shape of the liner layer(710). Additionally, a body-facing side of the liner layer (710) mayform the body-facing surface (712) of the body liner (700) and anopposite rear side of the liner layer (710) may form the rear surface(714) of the body liner (700). It should be appreciated that thebody-facing surface (712) and rear surface (714) of the body liner (700)may be configured to have any respective coefficients of friction, suchas described in more detail below.

The liner layer (710) may be configured to absorb fluid, such asdescribed in more detail above. In some variations, the liner layer(710) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid as describedabove. For example, in some variations, the liner layer (710) may beconfigured to transfer fluid across the thickness of a body liner (e.g.,in a “third direction” as discussed above, which may perpendicular toboth the longitudinal axis (706) and the lateral axis (704)) at awicking rate that is greater than wicking rates at which fluid istransferred within the plane of the body liner (e.g., in a “firstdirection” and “second direction” as discussed above). When the bodyliner (700) is folded over the longitudinal axis (706), a greaterwicking rate across the thickness of the body liner (700) may promotetransfer of fluid from a contact point on the body-facing surface (712)of the body liner on one side of the fold to the rear surface (714) onthat side of the fold, and may further promote transfer from the rearsurface (714) to a contacting rear surface (714) on the opposite side ofthe fold, as described in more detail above. Additionally oralternatively, the liner layer (710) may be configured to transfer fluidin a first direction in the plane of the body liner (700) at a wickingrate that is faster than the wicking rate in a second direction in theplane of the body liner (700) that is perpendicular to the firstdirection. For example, in some variations, the liner layer (710) may beconfigured to transfer fluid in a first direction parallel to thelongitudinal axis (706) at a wicking rate that is faster than a wickingrate in a second direction parallel to the lateral axis (704). When thebody liner (700) is placed at least partially in the intergluteal cleftas shown in FIG. 7B, fluid absorbed by the body liner (700) must travelparallel to the lateral axis (704) in order to reach the portions of thebody liner (700) extending from the intergluteal cleft. Accordingly,having a faster wicking rate along the longitudinal axis (706) than awicking rate along the lateral axis (704) may reduce the amount of fluidthat the liner layer (702) transmits along the lateral axis (704) towardthe portion of the exposed portions of the body liner (700), which mayhelp prevent the wearer from grabbing a soiled portion of the body liner(700) during removal of the body liner.

In other variations, the body liners described here may comprise two ormore liner layers. For example, FIG. 7D shows a variation of body liner(700) in which the body liner is formed from a top sheet (716) and acore member (718) in contact with the top sheet (716). In somevariations, the top sheet (716) and core member (718) may be the onlyliner layers of the body liner (700). The top sheet (716) and coremember (718) may be any combination of top sheet and core member, suchas those described in more detail above. In these variations, the topsheet (716) and core member (718) may have the same rectangular shape,which may be the overall shape of the body liner (700). As shown in FIG.7D, a body-facing side of the top sheet (716) may form the body-facingsurface (712) of the body liner (700) and a rear side of the core membermay form the rear surface (714) of the body liner (700).

The top sheet (716) and/or core member (718) be configured to be fluidabsorbent, such as described in more detail above. In some variations,both the top sheet (716) and the core member (718) are configured to befluid absorbent. In some variations, one or both of the top sheet (716)and core member (718) may be configured to selectively transfer fluidwithin the respective liner layers, such as described above. Forexample, in some variations, the top sheet (716) may be configured totransfer fluid across the thickness of a top sheet (716) (e.g., in a“third direction”, which may be perpendicular to both the longitudinalaxis (706) and the lateral axis (704)) at a wicking rate that is greaterthan wicking rates at which fluid is transferred within the plane of thetop sheet (e.g., in a “first direction” and “second direction” asdiscussed above). This may promote transfer of fluid through thethickness of the top sheet (716) and into the core member (718). In someof these variations, the core member (718) may be configured to transferfluid across the thickness of a core member (718) at a wicking rate thatis greater than wicking rates at which fluid is transferred within theplane of the core member (718). When the body liner (700) is folded overthe longitudinal axis (706), a greater wicking rate across the thicknessof the core member (718) may promote transfer of fluid from betweenportions of the rear surface (714) on either side of the fold via rearsurface-to-rear surface contact. In other variations, the core member(718) may be configured to distribute fluid evenly through the coremember (718).

In some variations, the top sheet (716) may be configured to transferfluid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (706) at awicking rate that is faster than a wicking rate in a direction parallelto the lateral axis (704). In these variations, fluid absorbed by thetop sheet (716) may be less likely to reach portions of the body liner(700) extending from the intergluteal cleft, such as described above.Additionally or alternatively, the core member (718) may be configuredto transfer fluid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (706)at a wicking rate that is faster than a wicking rate in a directionparallel to the lateral axis (704). In these variations, fluid absorbedby the core member (718) may be less likely to reach portions of thebody (700).

In other variations, the body liner (700) may comprise three or moreliner layers. For example, FIG. 7E shows a variation of body liner (700)in which the body liner may be formed from a top sheet (716), a coremember (718) in contact with the top sheet (716), and a back sheet (720)in contact with the core member (718). In some variations, the top sheet(716), core member (718), and back sheet (720) may be the only linerlayers of the body liner (700). The top sheet (716), core member (718),and back sheet (720) may include any combination of top sheets, coremembers, and back sheets, such as those described in more detail above.In the variation shown in FIG. 7E, the top sheet (716), core member(718), and back sheet (720) may each have the same rectangular shape,which may be the same overall shape of the body liner (700). As shownthere, a body-facing side of the top sheet (716) may form thebody-facing surface (712) of the body liner (700) while a rear side ofthe back sheet (720) may form the rear surface (714) of the body liner(700). It should be appreciated that the body-facing surface (712) andrear surface (714) of the body liner (700) may be configured to have anyrespective coefficients of friction, such as described in more detailbelow.

The top sheet (716), core member (718), and/or back sheet (720) may beconfigured to be fluid absorbent, such as described in more detailabove. In some variations, each of the top sheet (716), the core member(718), and back sheet (720) may be configured to be fluid absorbent.Some or all of the top sheet (716), core member (718), and back sheet(720) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid as describedabove. For example, in some variations, the top sheet (716) may beconfigured to transfer fluid across the thickness of a top sheet (716)(e.g., in a “third direction”, which may be perpendicular to both thelongitudinal axis (706) and the lateral axis (704)) at a wicking ratethat is greater than wicking rates at which fluid is transferred withinthe plane of the top sheet (e.g., in a “first direction” and “seconddirection” as discussed above). This may promote quicker transfer offluid through the thickness of the top sheet (716) and to the coremember (718). In some of these variations, the core member (718) may beconfigured to transfer fluid across the thickness of a core member (718)at a wicking rate that is greater than wicking rate or rates at whichfluid is transferred within the plane of the core member (718), whichmay promote quicker transfer of fluid through the thickness of the coremember (718) and to the back sheet (720). In some variations, the coremember (718) may be configured to distribute fluid absorbed by the coremember (718) evenly though the core member. In some variations, the backsheet (720) may also be configured to transfer fluid across thethickness of the back sheet (720) at a wicking rate that is greater thanwicking rates at which fluid is transferred within the plane of the backsheet (720). When the body liner (700) is folded over the longitudinalaxis (706), a greater wicking rate across the thickness of the backsheet (720) may promote transfer of fluid through the thickness of theback sheet (720) and transfer of fluid to a portion of the back sheet(720) on the opposite side of the fold via back sheet-to-back sheetcontact.

In some variations, the top sheet (716) may be configured to transferfluid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (706) at awicking rate that is faster than a wicking rate in a direction parallelto the lateral axis (704). Additionally or alternatively, the coremember (718) may be configured to transfer fluid in a direction parallelto the longitudinal axis (706) at a wicking rate that is faster than awicking rate in a direction parallel to the lateral axis (704).Additionally or alternatively, the back sheet (720) may be configured totransfer fluid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (706) ata wicking rate that is faster than a wicking rate in a directionparallel to the lateral axis (704). In these variations, having a fasterwicking rates parallel to the longitudinal axis in some or all of thetop sheet, back sheet, and core member may reduce the likelihood theabsorbed fluid will reach portions of the body liner (700) extendingfrom the intergluteal cleft.

In some variations, the body liners may comprise a target zone which mayhave one or more different properties than surrounding portions of thebody liner. For example, FIG. 8A shows a top view of body liner (800)having a rectangular shape and a target zone (801). As shown there, bodyliner (800) may have a longitudinal axis (806) and a lateral axis (804)perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (806) and intersecting thelongitudinal axis (806) at a target point (808). When the body liner(800) is placed at least partially into the intergluteal cleft, such asdescribed above with respect to body liner (700) in FIG. 7B, the bodyliner (800) may be folded along the longitudinal axis (806) to positionthe target point (808) at or near the anus. While the target point (808)is shown in FIG. 8A as being positioned at the center of the body liner(800), it should be appreciated that the target point (808) may bepositioned at any suitable location on the body liner. Additionally,while the body liner (800) is shown in FIG. 8A as having a height alongthe longitudinal axis (806) smaller than a width along the lateral axis(804), it should be appreciated that in some instances the body liner(800) may have equal height and width, or may have a width along thelateral axis (804) smaller than a height along the longitudinal axis(806). The body liner (800) may comprise one or more adhesive regions(not shown), as will be described in more detail below.

Generally, the body liner (800) may be sized such that when placed atleast partially within the intergluteal cleft, at least a portion of thebody liner (800) may extend out of the intergluteal cleft. The bodyliner (800) may be positioned in the intergluteal cleft such asdescribed above with respect to the body liner (700) shown in FIG. 7B.When so positioned, at least a portion of the body liner (800) mayextend outside of the intergluteal cleft. Generally, the exposed portionof the body liner (800) extends far enough outside the interglutealcleft enough to allow a wearer to grasp the body liner (800), but not sofar that the body liner (800) is snagged by clothing, such as describedin more detail above.

As mentioned previously, the body liner (800) may include a target zone(801). The target zone (801) may at least partially surround the targetpoint (808) and may be configured to receive a load of anal leakage andabsorb fluid therefrom. Generally, the target zone (901) may have anysuitable size and shape such as described above. While shown in FIG. 8Aas being oval in shape, the target zone (801) may have any suitableshape (e.g., a circle shape, a rectangular shape, an irregular shape orthe like). When the target zone (801) is oval in shape, a major axis ofthe oval target zone (801) may be aligned parallel to the longitudinalaxis (806). In other variations, the target zone (801) may be positionedsuch that the major axis of the oval target zone (801) is angledrelative to the longitudinal axis (806) (e.g., perpendicular tolongitudinal axis (806) or the like). Generally the target zone (801)may be sized such that it may fit entirely within the intergluteal cleftwhen the body liner (800) is placed as discussed above with respect tothe variation of body liner (700) shown above in FIG. 7B. FIG. 8E showsanother variation of the body liner (800) in which the target zone (801)is formed as a strip (880) that spans a length of the liner. In thevariation shown in FIG. 8E, the strip (880) spans a height of the lineralong the longitudinal axis (806), although it should be appreciatedthat in other instances the strip (880) may span a width of the liner(e.g., along the lateral axis (804)). In instances where the body liner(800) comprises a core member that defines the size and shape of thetarget zone (801), as will be discussed in detail below, the core membermay be sized and shaped as the strip (880) shown in FIG. 8E.

The body liner (800) shown in FIG. 8A may be made from one or more linerlayers. For example, FIG. 8B shows a cross-sectional side view (takenalong the longitudinal axis (806)) of a variation of the body liner(800) in which the body liner (800) is formed from a single liner layer(810). In these variations, the liner layer (810) may have a rectangularshape that defines the overall shape of the body liner (800).Additionally, a body-facing side of the liner layer (810) may form thebody-facing surface (812) of the body liner (800) and an opposite rearside of the liner layer (810) may form the rear surface (814) of thebody liner (800). The body-facing surface (812) and/or rear surface(814) of the body liner (800) may be configured to have any respectivecoefficients of friction, such as described in more detail below.

The liner layer (810) may be configured to absorb fluid, such asdescribed in more detail above. In some of these variations, the targetzone (801) may have a different absorbency than surrounding portions ofthe body liner (800). In some of these variations, the absorbency of thetarget zone (801) may be greater than the absorbency of the surroundingportions of the body liner (800). For example, in some variations, thetarget zone (801) may be formed from a different material than thesurrounding portions of the liner layer. Additionally or alternatively,the target zone (801) may be embedded with one or more absorbentmaterials, such as one or more super absorbent polymers, such asdescribed in more detail above.

In some variations, the liner layer (810) may be configured toselectively transfer fluid, such as described above with respect to thevariation of liner layer (710) shown in FIG. 7C. It should beappreciated that a wicking rate in a particular direction in the targetzone (801) may be different than a wicking rate in the same direction insurrounding portions of the body liner (800). For example, in somevariations the target zone (801) may be configured to transfer fluidwithin the target zone (801) faster than it is transferred within thesurrounding portions of the body liner (800). In these instances, fasterwicking within the target zone (801) may cause the target zone (801) toabsorb more fluid than the surrounding portions of the body liner (800),which may limit the amount of fluid that may reach the periphery of thebody liner (800).

In other variations, the body liners (800) may comprise two or moreliner layers. For example, FIG. 8C shows a variation of the body liner(800) in which the body liner may be formed from a top sheet (816) and acore member (818) attached to the top sheet (816). In some variations,the top sheet (816) and core member (818) may be the only liner layersof the body liner (800). The top sheet (816) and core member (818) maybe any combination of top sheets and core members, such as thosedescribed in more detail above. In some of these variations, the topsheet (816) may have a rectangular shape that defines the overall sizeand shape of the body liner (800). In some variations, the core member(818) may be the same size and shape as the target zone (801), such thatcore member (818) may define the overall size and shape of the targetzone (801). In these variations, the core member (818) may be anysuitable size such as described in more detail above. In the variationshown in FIG. 8C, a body-facing side of the top sheet (816) may form thebody-facing surface (812) of the body liner (800). The rear surface(814) of the body liner (800) may be formed from a combination of therear side of core member (818) and the portion of the rear side of thetop sheet (816) that is not covered by the core member (818). Thebody-facing surface (812) and/or rear surface (814) of the body liner(800) may be configured to have any respective coefficients of friction,such as described in more detail below.

The top sheet (816) and/or core member (818) may be configured to befluid absorbent, such as described in more detail above. In somevariations, both the top sheet (816) and the core member (818) areconfigured to be fluid absorbent. In these variations, the addition ofthe core member (818) to the target zone (801) may increase theabsorbance of the body liner (800) in the target zone (801) relative tothe surrounding portions of the body liner (800). The absorbency of thebody liner (800) in the target zone (801) may be further modified bymodification of the body liner materials in the target zone (801) and/orinclusion of one or more absorbent materials, such as describedimmediately above.

In some variations, one or both of the top sheet (816) and core member(818) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid as described inmore detail above. For example, the top sheet (816) may be configured toselectively transfer fluid in any manner such as those described abovewith respect to top sheet (716) depicted in FIG. 7D, while the coremember (818) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid in anymanner such as those described above with respect to core member (718)depicted in FIG. 7D. In some variations, the core member (818) may beconfigured to distribute fluid more quickly than the top sheet (816). Inthese variations, fluid absorbed by the body liner (e.g., through thetop sheet (716)) may be distributed more in the core member than the topsheet, which may reduce the likelihood the fluid reaches the peripheryof the body liner (800).

In other variations, the body liner (800) may comprise three or moreliner layers. For example, FIG. 8D shows a variation of body liner (800)in which the body liner is formed from a top sheet (816), a back sheet(820), and a core member (818) positioned between the top sheet (816)and the back sheet (820). In some variations, the top sheet (816), coremember (818), and back sheet (820) may be the only liner layers of thebody liner (800). The top sheet (816), core member (818), and back sheet(820) may be any combination of top sheets, core members, and backsheets, such as those described in more detail above. In the variationshown in FIG. 8D, the top sheet (816) and the back sheet (818) may eachhave the same rectangular shape, which may define the overall shape ofthe body liner (800). The core member (818) may be the same size andshape as the target zone (801), such that core member (818) may definethe overall size and shape of the target zone (801). As shown in FIG.8D, a body-facing side of the top sheet (816) may form the body-facingsurface (812) of the body liner (800) while a rear side of the backsheet (820) may form the rear surface (814) of the body liner (800).Additionally, a body-facing side of the liner layer (810) may form thebody-facing surface (812) of the body liner (800) and an opposite rearside of the liner layer (810) may form the rear surface (814) of thebody liner (800). The body-facing surface (812) and/or rear surface(814) of the body liner (800) may be configured to have any respectivecoefficients of friction, such as described in more detail below.

The top sheet (816), core member (818), and/or back sheet (820) may beconfigured to be fluid absorbent, such as described in more detailabove. In some of these variations, each of the top sheet (816), thecore member (818), and back sheet (820) may be configured to be fluidabsorbent. In these variations, the addition of the core member (818) tothe target zone (801) may increase the absorbance of the body liner(800) in the target zone (801) relative to the surrounding portions ofthe body liner (800), which may include only the top sheet (816) and theback sheet (820). The absorbency of the body liner (800) in the targetzone (801) may be further modified by altering the materials of theliner layers in the target zone (801) and/or inclusion of one or moreabsorbent materials, such as described immediately above.

In some variations, one, two, or each of the top sheet (816), coremember (818), and back sheet (820) may be configured to selectivelytransfer fluid as described in more detail above. For example, the topsheet (816) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid in anymanner such as those described above with respect to top sheet (716)depicted in FIG. 7D, while the core member (818) may be configured toselectively transfer fluid in any manner such as those described abovewith respect to core member (718) depicted in FIG. 7D, and the backsheet (820) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid in anymanner such as those described above with respect to the back sheet(720) depicted in FIG. 7D. In some variations, the core member (818) maybe configured to distribute fluid more quickly than the top sheet (816)and the back sheet (820). In these variations, fluid absorbed by thebody liner (e.g., through the top sheet (716)) may be distributed morein the core member than the top sheet and back sheet, which may reducethe likelihood the fluid reaches the periphery of the body liner (800)(e.g., by spreading past the target zone (801) into surrounding portionsof the body liner (800)).

While the top sheet (816) and back sheet (820) are shown in FIG. 8C ashaving the same size and shape, it should be appreciated that the topsheet (816) and back sheet (820) may have a different size and/or shape.For example, FIG. 9A shows a top view of body liner (900) having anoverall rectangular shape and a target zone (901). As shown there, bodyliner (900) may have a longitudinal axis (906) and a lateral axis (904)perpendicular to the longitudinal axis (906) and intersecting thelongitudinal axis (906) at a target point (908). When the body liner(900) is placed at least partially into the intergluteal cleft, such asdescribed above with respect to the body liner (700) depicted in FIG.7B, the body liner (900) may be folded along the longitudinal axis (906)to position the target point (908) at or near the anus. While the targetpoint (908) is shown in FIG. 9A as being positioned at the center of thebody liner (900), it should be appreciated that the target point (908)may be positioned at any suitable location on the body liner.Additionally, while the body liner (900) shown in FIG. 9A as having aheight along the longitudinal axis (906) smaller than a width along thelateral axis (904), it should be appreciated that in some instances thebody liner (900) may have equal height and width, or may have a widthalong the lateral axis (904) smaller than a height along thelongitudinal axis (906). The body liner (900) may comprise one or moreadhesive regions (not shown), as will be described in more detail below.Generally, the body liner (900) may be sized such that when placed atleast partially within the intergluteal cleft, at least a portion of thebody liner (900) may extend out of the intergluteal cleft, such asdescribed in more detail above. In some variations, the exposed portionof the body liner (900) extends far enough outside the interglutealcleft enough to allow a wearer to grasp the body liner (900), but not sofar that the body liner (900) is snagged by clothing.

As mentioned above, the body liner (900) may include a target zone(901). The target zone (901) may at least partially surround the targetpoint (908) and may be configured to receive a load of anal leakage andabsorb fluid therefrom. Generally, the target zone (901) may have anysuitable size and shape such as described above. While shown in FIG. 9Aas being oval in shape, the target zone (901) may have any suitableshape (e.g., a circle shape, a rectangular shape, an irregular shape orthe like). When the target zone (901) is oval in shape, a major axis ofthe oval target zone (901) may be aligned parallel to the longitudinalaxis (906). In other variations, the target zone (901) may be positionedsuch that the major axis of the oval target zone (901) is angledrelative to the longitudinal axis (906) (e.g., perpendicular tolongitudinal axis (906) or the like).

The body liner (900) shown in FIG. 9A may comprise three layers,including a top sheet (916), a core member (918), and a back sheet(920), as shown in a cross-sectional side view (taken along thelongitudinal axis (906)) in FIG. 9B. In some variations, the top sheet(916), core member (918), and back sheet (920) may be the only linerlayers of the body liner (900). The top sheet (916), core member (918),and back sheet (920) may be any combination of top sheets, core members,and back sheets, such as those described in more detail above. In thevariation shown in FIG. 9B, the top sheet (916) have a rectangularshape, which may define the overall shape of the body liner (900) andthe core member (918) may be the same size and shape as the target zone(901), such that core member (918) may define the overall size and shapeof the target zone (901). In these variations, the back sheet (920) mayhave a shape larger than the target zone (901) yet smaller than that ofthe top sheet (916), such that the back sheet (920) may enclose the coremember (918) between the top sheet (916) and the back sheet (920). Theback sheet (920) and top sheet (916) may be connected in any suitablemanner, such as described in more detail above. In these variations, abody-facing side of the top sheet (916) may form the body-facing surface(912) of the body liner (900). The rear surface (914) of the body liner(900) may be formed by a combination of a rear side of the back sheet(920) and the portions of the rear side of the top sheet (920) which arenot covered by the back sheet (920).

The size and shape of the back sheet (920) may define the size and shapeof a second zone (903) as indicated in FIG. 9A. While shown in FIG. 9Aas being rectangular, the back sheet (920) (and with it, the second zone(903)) may have any suitable shape (e.g., a circle, an oval, anirregular shape, or the like). The second zone (903) may at leastpartially surround the target zone (901), and may have differentproperties from the target zone (901) and/or surrounding portions of thebody liner (900), as will be described in more detail below.

The top sheet (916), core member (918), and/or back sheet (920) may beconfigured to be fluid absorbent. In some variations, each of the topsheet (916), the core member (918), and back sheet (920) may beconfigured to be fluid absorbent. In these variations, the inclusion ofthe top sheet (916), the core member (918), and the back sheet (920) inthe target zone (901) may allow for greater absorbency in the targetzone (901) relative to the second zone (903) (which may include just thetop sheet (916) and the back sheet (920), which in turn may have greaterabsorbency than the surrounding portions of the body liner (900) (whichmay include just the top sheet (916). The absorbency of the body liner(900) in the target zone (901), the second zone (903), and/or thesurrounding portions of the body liner may be further modified bymodification of the materials in one or more of the liner layers and/orthe inclusion of one or more absorbent materials in one or more of theliner layers, such as described in more detail above. It should also beappreciated any or all of the top sheet (916), core member (918), andback sheet (920) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid, andmay be configured to do so in any manner or combination of manners asdescribed in more detail above.

While the rectangular body liners depicted in FIGS. 7A-7E, 4A-4D, and 5Aand 5B are shown in those figures as having a height along alongitudinal axis smaller than a width along a lateral axis, it shouldbe appreciated that the body liners may have any suitable height andwidth. For example, FIG. 10A a first variation of a body liner (1000)having a rectangular shape, and having a longitudinal axis (1002) andlateral axis (1004) intersecting the longitudinal axis (1002) at atarget point (1006). The body liner (1000) may be include any number ofliner layers and may be configured in any suitable manner, such asdescribed above with respect to FIGS. 7A-7E, except that the height ofthe body liner (1000) along the longitudinal axis (1002) is greater thanthe width along the lateral axis (1004). When the body liner (1000) isfolded along the longitudinal axis (1002) and placed in the interglutealcleft (1008) to position the target point (1006) at or near the anus(1009), the body liner (1000) may be sized such that a portion of thebody liner (1000) extends outside of intergluteal cleft (1008), asdepicted in FIG. 10B. As shown there, the portions of the body liner(1000) that extend outside of the intergluteal cleft at one or both endsof the body liner (1000) along the longitudinal axis (1002). Invariations where the body liner (1000) (or one or more liner layersthereof) is configured to selectively transfer fluid in the plane of thebody liner (1000) (or one or more liner layers thereof), it may bedesirable to configure the body liner (1000) (or one or more linerlayers thereof) to transfer fluid along the lateral axis (1004) at afaster wicking rate than a wicking rate long the longitudinal axis(1002). In these variations, more fluid may be transferred along thelateral axis (1004) than the longitudinal axis (1006), which may reducethe likelihood that fluid absorbed by the body liner (1000) will reachthe portions of the body liner (1000) extending from the interglutealcleft.

Similarly, FIG. 10C shows a variation of a body liner (1010) having arectangular shape and a target zone (1001). The body liner may have alongitudinal axis (1002) and lateral axis (1004) intersecting thelongitudinal axis (1002) at a target point (1006), and may be configuredin any suitable manner such as those described above with respect to thevariations of the body liner (800) depicted in FIGS. 8A-8D, except thatthe height of the body liner (1000) along the longitudinal axis (1002)is greater than the width along the lateral axis (1004). Again, in thesevariations, it may be desirable to configure the body liner (1000) (orone or more liner layers thereof) to transfer fluid along the lateralaxis (1004) at a faster wicking rate than a wicking rate long thelongitudinal axis (1002).

FIG. 10D shows a variation of a body liner (1020) having a rectangularshape and a target zone (1001) and a second zone (1003). The body linermay have a longitudinal axis (1002) and lateral axis (1004) intersectingthe longitudinal axis (1002) at a target point (1006), and may beconfigured in any suitable manner such as those described above withrespect to the variations of the body liner (900) depicted in FIGS.9A-9D, except that the height of the body liner (1000) along thelongitudinal axis (1002) is greater than the width along the lateralaxis (1004). Again, in these variations, it may be desirable toconfigure the body liner (1000) (or one or more liner layers thereof) totransfer fluid along the lateral axis (1004) at a faster wicking ratethan a wicking rate long the longitudinal axis (1002).

In some variations, the body liner may have a shape including one ormore lobes. In these variations, the body liner may have a body portionand one or more lobes extending from the body portion. One or more ofthe lobes may extend from the intergluteal cleft when the body liner isplaced at least partially in the intergluteal cleft, which may providefor a retrieval portion such as described in more detail above. In somevariations, the body liner may comprise two or more lobes extending fromthe body portion. In some of these variations, the body liner maycomprise two or more lobes extending from a body portion on a first sideof the lateral axis of the body liner. In some of these variations, theat least one of the two or more lobes may extend from the body portionon a first side of the longitudinal axis and at least one of the two ormore lobes may extend from the body portion on a second side of thelongitudinal axis. In others variations, the body liner may comprise atleast one lobe extending from a body portion on a first side of thelateral axis and at least one lobe extending from a body portion on asecond side of the lateral axis.

In some variations, the body liner may have a shape including at leastfour lobes. In some of these variations, a first lobe and a second lobemay extend from a body portion on a first side of the longitudinal axisand a third lobe and a fourth lobe may extend from the body portion on asecond side of the longitudinal axis. In some of these variations, thefirst and third lobes may extend from the body portion on a first sideof the lateral axis and the second and fourth lobes may extend from thebody portion a second side of the lateral axis.

FIG. 11A shows a top view one variation of a body liner (1100) having ashape comprising a plurality of lobes. As shown there, the body liner(1100) may have a body portion (1102) and first, second, third, andfourth lobes (labeled (1104), (1106), (1108), and (1110), respectively)extending from the (1102). The body liner (1100) may further have alongitudinal axis (1112) and lateral axis (1114) perpendicularlyintersecting the longitudinal axis (1112) at a target point (1116), suchas described in more detail above. The first (1104) and second (1106)lobes may extend from the body portion (1102) on a first side of thelongitudinal axis (1112) and the third (1108) and fourth (1110) lobesmay extend from the body portion (1102) on a second side of thelongitudinal axis (1112). Additionally, the first lobe (1104) and thethird lobe (1108) may extend from the body portion (1102) on a firstside of the lateral axis (1114) and the second lobe (1106) and thefourth lobe (1110) may extend from the body portion a second side of thelateral axis. In the variation of body liner (1100) shown in FIG. 11A,the body liner may further comprise a target zone (1118), which may haveone or more properties that may differ from surrounding portions of thebody liner (1100), although in some variations the body liner (1100)does not include a target zone (1118). Additionally, in some variations,the body liner (1100) may comprise one or more adhesive regions (notshown), as will be described in more detail below.

Generally, the body liner (1100) may be sized such that when placed atleast partially within the intergluteal cleft, at least a portion of thebody liner (1100) may extend out of the intergluteal cleft. For example,FIG. 11B depicts the body liner (1100) placed partially within theintergluteal cleft (1109). As shown there, the body liner (1100) may bepositioned such that the target point (1116) is positioned at or nearthe anus (1111) and the body liner (1100) is folded along thelongitudinal axis (1112). When positioned as shown in FIG. 11B, at leasta portion of the body liner (1100) extends outside of the interglutealcleft (1109). In the variation shown in FIG. 11B, the first (1104)and/or third lobe (1106) may be configured to extend from theintergluteal cleft (only the third lobe (1106) is shown in FIG. 11B).Generally, the exposed portion of the first (1104) and third lobes(1106) may extend far enough to be grasped by a user, but not so farthat the first (1104) or third lobes (1106) is snagged by clothing, suchas described in more detail above.

The body liner (1100) and lobes thereof may be any suitable dimensions.For example, as shown in FIG. 11A, the body portion (1102) may have aheight (1120) along the longitudinal axis (1112) and a width (1122)along the lateral axis (1114). In some variations, the height (1120) maybe at least about 5.1 cm, and may preferably be between about 7 and 8.3cm. In some variations, the width (1122) may be at least about 5.1 cm,and may also preferably be between about 7 and 8.3 cm. The height (1102)may be greater than width (1104) (e.g., the height-to-width ratio of thebody portion (1102) may be at least 1.1 or the like), may be equal towidth (1104), or may be less than the width (1104) (e.g., thewidth-to-height ration of the body portion (1102) may be at least 1.1 orthe like).

The first (1104) and third (1108) lobes may extend a distance (1126)beyond the body portion (1102) along the longitudinal axis (1112), andmay extend a distance (1124) beyond the body portion (1102) along thelateral axis (1114). Similarly, the second (1106) and fourth (1110) mayextend a distance (1128) beyond the body portion (1102) along thelongitudinal axis (1112), and may extend a distance (1130) beyond thebody portion (1102) along the lateral axis (1114). In some variations,the distance (1126) of the first (1104) and third lobes (1108) along thelongitudinal axis may be longer than the distance (1128) of the second(1106) and fourth (1108) lobes. This may provide utility in instanceswhere the first (1104) and third (1108) lobes are configured to extendat least partially from the intergluteal cleft after placement of thebody liner (1100), and when the second (1106) and fourth (1108) lobesare configured to avoid contact with the genitals of the wearer. In someof these variations, the distance (1128) of the second lobe (1106) alongthe longitudinal axis may be less than or equal to about 90 percent ofthe distance (1124) of the first lobe (1104) along the longitudinalaxis. In other variations, the distance (1128) may be less than about1.9 cm. In some of these variations, the distance (1128) may be lessthan about 0.65 cm.

In some variations, the distance (1124) of the first (1104) and third(1108) lobes may be at least about 5 percent of the height (1120) of thebody portion. In some of these variations, the distance (1124) of thefirst (1104) and third (1108) lobes may be preferably at least about 15percent of the height (1120) of the body portion. In some of thesevariations, the distance (1124) of the first (1104) and third (1108)lobes may be preferably about 30 percent percent of the height (1120) ofthe body portion. For example, in variations where the height (1120) isabout 7.6 cm, the distance (1124) may be about 2.3 cm. In somevariations, the width (1126) of the lobes beyond the width (1122) of thebody portion (1102) may be any suitable value (e.g., at least about 1cm, between about 1 cm and about 2.5 cm, greater than about 2.5 cm, orthe like).

The first (1104) and third (1108) lobes may each extend away from thebody portion (1102) at an angle (1132) relative to the longitudinal axis(1112) of the body liner (1100). In some of these variations, it may bedesirable for the angle (1132) to be less than about 45 degrees. Becausethe intergluteal cleft is deepest at the anal opening and becomesshallower towards the coccyx, configuring the angle (1132) to be lessthan about 45 degrees may reduce the overall exit length needed for thefirst (1104) and/or third (1108) lobes to extend at least partially outof the intergluteal cleft to act as a retrieval portion of the bodyliner (1100). In some variations it may also be desirable for the angleto be greater than about 10 degrees, which may help reduce thepossibility that the first (1104) and third (1108) lobes may catch oneach other and bunch. Accordingly, in some variations the angle (1132)may be between about 10 degrees and about 45 degrees. In some of thesevariations, the angle (1132) may preferably be about 40 degrees.

As mentioned previously, the body liner (1100) may include a target zone(1118). The target zone (1118) may at least partially surround thetarget point (1116) and may be configured to receive a load of analleakage and absorb fluid therefrom. Generally, the target zone (901) mayhave any suitable size and shape such as described above. While shown inFIG. 11A as being oval in shape, the target zone (1118) may have anysuitable shape (e.g., a circle shape, a rectangular shape, an irregularshape or the like). When the target zone (1118) is oval in shape, amajor axis of the oval target zone (1118) may be aligned parallel to thelongitudinal axis (1112). In other variations, the target zone (1118)may be positioned such that the major axis of the oval target zone(1118) is angled relative to the longitudinal axis (1112) (e.g.,perpendicular to longitudinal axis (1112) or the like). Generally thetarget zone (1118) may be sized such that it may fit entirely within theintergluteal cleft when the body liner (1100) is placed as discussedabove with respect to FIG. 11B. FIG. 11F shows another variation of thebody liner (1100) in which the target zone (1118) is formed as a strip(1180) that spans a length of the liner. In the variation shown in FIG.11F, the strip (1180) spans a height of the liner along the longitudinalaxis (1112), although it should be appreciated that in other instancesthe strip (1180) may span a width of the liner (e.g., along the lateralaxis (1114)). In instances where the body liner (1100) comprises a coremember that defines the size and shape of the target zone (1118), aswill be discussed in detail below, the core member may be sized andshaped as the strip (1180) shown in FIG. 4F. Also shown there areadhesive regions (1182), such as those described below.

The body liner (1100) shown in FIG. 11A may be made from one or moreliner layers. For example, FIG. 11C shows a cross-sectional side view(taken along the longitudinal axis (1112)) of a variation of the bodyliner (1100) in which the body liner (1100) is formed from a singleliner layer (1140). In these variations, the liner layer (1140) may havea lobed shape (the four-lobed shape shown in FIG. 11A may be a butterflyshape) that defines the overall shape of the body liner (1100).Additionally, a body-facing side of the liner layer (1140) may form thebody-facing surface (1142) of the body liner (1100) and an opposite rearside of the liner layer (1140) may form the rear surface (1144) of thebody liner (1100). The body-facing surface (1142) and/or rear surface(1144) of the body liner (1100) may be configured to have any respectivecoefficients of friction, such as described in more detail below.

The liner layer (1140) may be configured to absorb fluid, such asdescribed in more detail above. In some of these variations, the targetzone (1118) may have a different absorbency than surrounding portions ofthe body liner (1100). In some of these variations, the absorbency ofthe target zone (1118) may be greater than the absorbency of thesurrounding portions of the body liner (1100). For example, in somevariations, the target zone (1118) may be formed from a differentmaterial than the surrounding portions of the liner layer. Additionallyor alternatively, the target zone (1118) may be embedded with one ormore absorbent materials, such as one or more super absorbent polymers,such as described in more detail above.

In some variations, the liner layer (1140) may be configured toselectively transfer fluid, such as described above. For example, insome variations, the liner layer (1140) may be configured to transferfluid across the thickness of a body liner (e.g., in a “third direction”as discussed above, which may perpendicular to both the longitudinalaxis (1112) and the lateral axis (1114)) at a wicking rate that isgreater than wicking rates at which fluid is transferred within theplane of the body liner (e.g., in a “first direction” and “seconddirection” as discussed above). When the body liner (1100) is foldedover the longitudinal axis (1112), a greater wicking rate across thethickness of the body liner (1100) may promote transfer of fluid from acontact point on the body-facing surface (1142) of the body liner on oneside of the fold to the rear surface (1144) on that side of the fold,and may further promote transfer from the rear surface (1144) to acontacting rear surface (1144) on the opposite side of the fold, asdescribed in more detail above. Additionally or alternatively, the linerlayer (1140) may be configured to transfer fluid in a first direction inthe plane of the body liner (1100) at a wicking rate that is faster thanthe wicking rate in a second direction in the plane of the body liner(1100) that is perpendicular to the first direction. For example, insome variations, the liner layer (1140) may be configured to transferfluid in a first direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (1112) at awicking rate that is slower than a wicking rate in a second directionparallel to the lateral axis (1114). When the body liner (1100) isplaced at least partially in the intergluteal cleft as shown in FIG.11B, fluid absorbed by the body liner (1100) may need to travel parallelto the longitudinal axis (1112) in order to reach the portions of thebody liner (1100) extending from the intergluteal cleft. Accordingly,having a faster wicking rate along the lateral axis (1114) than awicking rate along the longitudinal axis (1112) may reduce the amount offluid that the liner layer (1140) transmits along the longitudinal axis(1112) toward the portion of the exposed portions of the body liner(1100), which may help prevent the wearer from grabbing a soiled portionof the body liner (1100) during removal of the body liner.

It should be appreciated that a wicking rate in a particular directionin the target zone (1118) may be different than a wicking rate in thesame direction in surrounding portions of the body liner (1100). Forexample, in some variations the target zone (1118) may be configured totransfer fluid within the target zone (1118) faster than it istransferred within the surrounding portions of the body liner (1100). Inthese instances, faster wicking within the target zone (1118) may causethe target zone (1118) to absorb more fluid than the surroundingportions of the body liner (1100), which may limit the amount of fluidthat may reach the periphery of the body liner (1100).

In other variations, the body liners (1100) may comprise two or moreliner layers. For example, FIG. 11D shows a variation of the body liner(1100) in which the body liner may be formed from a top sheet (1146) anda core member (1148) attached to the top sheet (1146). In somevariations, the top sheet (1146) and core member (1148) may be the onlyliner layers of the body liner (1100). The top sheet (1146) and coremember (1148) may be any combination of top sheets and core members,such as those described in more detail above. In some of thesevariations, the top sheet (1146) may be a lobed shape that defines theoverall size and shape of the body liner (1100). In some variations, thecore member (1148) may be the same size and shape as the target zone(1118), such that core member (1148) may define the overall size andshape of the target zone (1118). In these variations, the core member(1148) may be any suitable size such as described in more detail above.In the variation shown in FIG. 11D, a body-facing side of the top sheet(1146) may form the body-facing surface (1142) of the body liner (1100).The rear surface (1144) of the body liner (1100) may be formed from acombination of the rear side of core member (1148) and the portion ofthe rear side of the top sheet (1146) that is not covered by the coremember (1148). The body-facing surface (1142) and/or rear surface (1144)of the body liner (1100) may be configured to have any respectivecoefficients of friction, such as described in more detail below.

The top sheet (1146) and/or core member (1148) may be configured to befluid absorbent, such as described in more detail above. In somevariations, both the top sheet (1146) and the core member (1148) areconfigured to be fluid absorbent. In these variations, the addition ofthe core member (1148) to the target zone (1118) may increase theabsorbance of the body liner (1100) in the target zone (1118) relativeto the surrounding portions of the body liner (1100). The absorbency ofthe body liner (1100) in the target zone (1118) may be further modifiedby modification of the body liner materials in the target zone (1118)and/or inclusion of one or more absorbent materials, such as describedimmediately above.

In some variations, one or both of the top sheet (1146) and core member(1148) may be configured to selectively transfer fluid as described inmore detail above. For example, in some variations, the top sheet (1146)may be configured to transfer fluid across the thickness of a top sheet(1146) (e.g., in a “third direction”, which may be perpendicular to boththe longitudinal axis (1112) and the lateral axis (1114)) at a wickingrate that is greater than wicking rates at which fluid is transferredwithin the plane of the top sheet (e.g., in a “first direction” and“second direction” as discussed above). This may promote transfer offluid through the thickness of the top sheet (1146) and into the coremember (1148). In some of these variations, the core member (1148) maybe configured to transfer fluid across the thickness of a core member(1148) at a wicking rate that is greater than wicking rates at whichfluid is transferred within the plane of the core member (1148). Whenthe body liner (1100) is folded over the longitudinal axis (1112), agreater wicking rate across the thickness of the core member (1148) maypromote transfer of fluid from between portions of the rear surface(1144) on either side of the fold via rear surface-to-rear surfacecontact. In other variations, the core member (1148) may be configuredto distribute fluid evenly through the core member (1148).

In some variations, the top sheet (1146) may be configured to transferfluid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (1112) at awicking rate that is slower than a wicking rate in a direction parallelto the lateral axis (1114). In these variations, fluid absorbed by thetop sheet (1146) may be less likely to reach portions of the body liner(1100) extending from the intergluteal cleft, such as described above.Additionally or alternatively, the core member (1148) may be configuredto transfer fluid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis(1146) at a wicking rate that is slower than a wicking rate in adirection parallel to the lateral axis (1114). In these variations,fluid absorbed by the core member (1148) may be less likely to reachportions of the body (1100).

In other variations, the body liner (1100) may comprise three or moreliner layers. For example, FIG. 11E shows a variation of body liner(1100) in which the body liner is formed from a top sheet (1146), a backsheet (1140), and a core member (1148) positioned between the top sheet(1146) and the back sheet (1140). In some variations, the top sheet(1146), core member (1148), and back sheet (1140) may be the only linerlayers of the body liner (1100). The top sheet (1146), core member(1148), and back sheet (1140) may be any combination of top sheets, coremembers, and back sheets, such as those described in more detail above.In the variation shown in FIG. 4D, the top sheet (1146) and the backsheet (1148) may each have the same oval shape, which may define theoverall shape of the body liner (1100). The core member (1148) may bethe same size and shape as the target zone (1118), such that core member(1148) may define the overall size and shape of the target zone (1118).As shown in FIG. 11E, a body-facing side of the top sheet (1146) mayform the body-facing surface (1142) of the body liner (1100) while arear side of the back sheet (1140) may form the rear surface (1144) ofthe body liner (1100). Additionally, a body-facing side of the linerlayer (1140) may form the body-facing surface (1142) of the body liner(1100) and an opposite rear side of the liner layer (1140) may form therear surface (1144) of the body liner (1100). The body-facing surface(1142) and/or rear surface (1144) of the body liner (1100) may beconfigured to have any respective coefficients of friction, such asdescribed in more detail below.

The top sheet (1146), core member (1148), and/or back sheet (420) may beconfigured to be fluid absorbent, such as described in more detailabove. In some of these variations, each of the top sheet (1146), thecore member (1148), and back sheet (1140) may be configured to be fluidabsorbent. In these variations, the addition of the core member (1148)to the target zone (1118) may increase the absorbance of the body liner(1100) in the target zone (1118) relative to the surrounding portions ofthe body liner (1100), which may include only the top sheet (1146) andthe back sheet (1140). The absorbency of the body liner (1100) in thetarget zone (1118) may be further modified by altering the materials ofthe liner layers in the target zone (1118) and/or inclusion of one ormore absorbent materials, such as described immediately above.

In some variations, one, two, or each of the top sheet (1146), coremember (1148), and back sheet (1140) may be configured to selectivelytransfer fluid as described in more detail above. For example, in somevariations, the top sheet (1146) may be configured to transfer fluidacross the thickness of a top sheet (1146) (e.g., in a “thirddirection”, which may be perpendicular to both the longitudinal axis(1112) and the lateral axis (1114)) at a wicking rate that is greaterthan wicking rates at which fluid is transferred within the plane of thetop sheet (e.g., in a “first direction” and “second direction” asdiscussed above). This may promote quicker transfer of fluid through thethickness of the top sheet (1146) and to the core member (1148). In someof these variations, the core member (1148) may be configured totransfer fluid across the thickness of a core member (1148) at a wickingrate that is greater than wicking rate or rates at which fluid istransferred within the plane of the core member (1148), which maypromote quicker transfer of fluid through the thickness of the coremember (1148) and to the back sheet (1140). In some variations, the coremember (1148) may be configured to distribute fluid absorbed by the coremember (1148) evenly though the core member. In some variations, theback sheet (1140) may also be configured to transfer fluid across thethickness of the back sheet (1140) at a wicking rate that is greaterthan wicking rates at which fluid is transferred within the plane of theback sheet (1140). When the body liner (1100) is folded over thelongitudinal axis (1112), a greater wicking rate across the thickness ofthe back sheet (1140) may promote transfer of fluid through thethickness of the back sheet (1140) and transfer of fluid to a portion ofthe back sheet (1140) on the opposite side of the fold via backsheet-to-back sheet contact.

In some variations, the top sheet (1146) may be configured to transferfluid in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis (1112) at awicking rate that is slower than a wicking rate in a direction parallelto the lateral axis (1124). Additionally or alternatively, the coremember (1148) may be configured to transfer fluid in a directionparallel to the longitudinal axis (1112) at a wicking rate that isslower than a wicking rate in a direction parallel to the lateral axis(1114). Additionally or alternatively, the back sheet (1140) may beconfigured to transfer fluid in a direction parallel to the longitudinalaxis (1112) at a wicking rate that is slower than a wicking rate in adirection parallel to the lateral axis (1114). In these variations,having a faster wicking rates parallel to the lateral axis in some orall of the top sheet, back sheet, and core member may reduce thelikelihood the absorbed fluid will reach portions of the body liner(1100) extending from the intergluteal cleft.

In some variations, the core member (1148) may be configured todistribute fluid more quickly than the top sheet (1146) and the backsheet (420). In these variations, fluid absorbed by the body liner(e.g., through the top sheet (316)) may be distributed more in the coremember than the top sheet and back sheet, which may reduce thelikelihood the fluid reaches the periphery of the body liner (1100)(e.g., by spreading past the target zone (1118) into surroundingportions of the body liner (1100)).

Body Liner Retention

When the body liners described here are folded over and placed at leastpartially in the intergluteal cleft, movement of the wearer may applyone or more forces to the body liner, which may have a tendency tobunch, dislodge or otherwise displace the body liner. For example,movement of the legs during routine movement (such as walking) may causethe buttocks to rub against one another. When a body liner is foldedalong its longitudinal axis, this movement may cause the rear surface ofthe body liner on one side of the folded longitudinal axis to rubagainst the rear surface of the body liner on the other side of thelongitudinal axis. Friction between folded-over rear surfaces may causethe body liner to slip relative to skin of the buttocks, which mayresult in bunching or displacement of the body liner. Bunching mayresult in discomfort to the wearer, and may reduce the ability of thebody liner to absorb and/or immobilize anal leakage. Accordingly, it maybe desirable to configure the body liners described here to minimizedisplacement or bunching the body liner during movement of a wearer.

In some variations, it may be desirable to configure the rear surface ofthe body liner to maximize slip between opposing segments of the rearsurface when the body liner is folded over as described above, which mayreduce the likelihood of bunching or displacement of the body liner. Inthese variations it may be desirable to reduce or minimize thecoefficient of friction of the rear surface of the body liner. Forexample, in some variations a body liner may comprise a rear surfacehaving a coefficient of friction less than about 0.15. In some of thesevariations, the rear surface preferably has a coefficient of frictionless than about 0.1. The coefficient of friction of the rear surface ofthe body liner may be minimized in any suitable manner. In somevariations, the rear surface of the body liner may be formed from amaterial or materials comprising a low coefficient of friction.Additionally or alternatively, the rear surface of the body liner may bepolished to reduce the coefficient of friction of the rear surface. Insome variations, the rear surface of the body liner may be coated withone or more materials (e.g., one or more powders or silicones) which mayreduce the coefficient of friction of the rear surface. With a reducedcoefficient of friction, the rear surface of the body liner may have asilkiness that encourages slip. Thus, when the body liner is foldedalong a longitudinal axis and positioned at least in the interglutealcleft (e.g., to position the rear surface in contact with itself), therear surface of the body liner on one side of the longitudinal axis maybe more likely to slip relative to the rear surface of the body liner onthe other side of the longitudinal axis, which may reduce the likelihoodof body liner bunching or movement of the body liner relative to theskin of the buttocks.

As described in more detail above, one or more liner layers may form therear surface of the body liners described here. For example, invariations where the body liner comprises a single liner layer, a rearside of the liner layer may form the rear surface of the body liner. Insome these variations, the rear side of the single liner layer may beconfigured to have a reduced coefficient of friction such as describedimmediately above (e.g., the rear side of the single liner layer may beformed from a material have a low free-fiber index, may be polished,and/or may include one or more coatings). In other variations, the bodyliner may comprise a plurality of liner layers, and the rear surface ofthe body liner may be formed by portions of the rear sides of the someor all of the liner layers. In these variations, the portions of therear sides of the liner layers forming the rear surface of the bodyliner may be configured to have a reduced coefficient of friction suchas described immediately above. For example, in variations in which abody liner comprises a back sheet and a rear side of the back sheetforms the rear surface of the body liner, the back sheet may beconfigured to have a reduce coefficient of friction such as described inmore detail above (e.g., the rear side of the single liner layer may beformed from a material have a low free-fiber index, may be polished,and/or may include one or more coatings).

In some variations, it may be desirable to configure to minimize slipbetween the body-facing surface of the body liner and the skin of awearer when the body liner is folded over and placed into theintergluteal cleft. When the body liners comprise one or more adhesiveregions on a body-facing surface, such as will be described in moredetail below, the adhesive regions may help prevent movement between thebody-facing surface and the skin. In some these variations, it may bedesirable to lower the coefficient of friction (e.g., in one of themanners as described above) of the portions of the body-facing surfacenot covered by adhesive regions, which may increase the comfort levelprovided by the body liner (e.g., by providing a smooth or silky surfaceto the tissue). In other instances, it may be desirable to maximize orotherwise increase the coefficient of friction of the body-facingsurface of the body liner to reduce the likelihood of movement betweenthe body liner and skin of the user. This may find particular utility ininstances where the body liner does not include one or more adhesiveregions. For example, in some variations a body liner may comprise abody-facing surface having a coefficient of friction greater than about0.25. In some of these variations, the body-facing surface preferablyhas a coefficient of friction greater than about 0.3. The coefficient offriction of the body-facing surface of the body liner may be maximizedor otherwise increased in any suitable manner. In some variations, thebody-facing surface of the body liner may be formed from a material ormaterials comprising a higher coefficient of friction. Additionally oralternatively, the body-facing surface of the body liner may beroughened or textured (e.g., via carding, needle punching, burnishing,or the like) to increase the coefficient of friction of the body-facingsurface. In some variations, the body-facing surface of the body linermay be coated with one or more materials (e.g., a tacky spray or thelike) which may increase the coefficient of friction of the body-facingsurface. With an increased coefficient of friction, the body-facingsurface of the body liner may move tend to move with the skin, and maybe less likely to move relative to the skin when the rear surface isrubbing against itself. This may reduce body liner bunching ordisplacement of the body liner relative to wearer. Additionally, theincreased coefficient of friction may result in a fluffier/softerbody-facing surface, which may provide greater comfort to a wearer whenthe body-facing surface is placed in contact with skin of the wearer.

As described in more detail above, one or more liner layers may form thebody-facing surface of the body liners described here. For example, invariations where the body liner comprises a single liner layer, abody-facing side of the liner layer may form the body-facing surface ofthe body liner. In some of these variations, the body-facing side of thesingle liner layer may be configured to have an increased coefficient offriction such as described immediately above (e.g., the body-facing sideof the single liner layer may be formed from a material have a highfree-fiber index, may be roughened/textured, and/or may include one ormore friction-increasing coatings). In other variations, the body linermay comprise a plurality of liner layers, and the body-facing surface ofthe body liner may be formed by portions of the body-facing sides ofsome or all of the liner layers. In these variations, the portions ofthe body-facing sides of the liner layers forming the body-facingsurface of the body liner may be configured to have an increasedcoefficient of friction such as described immediately above. Forexample, in variations in which a body liner comprises a top sheet and abody-facing side of the top sheet forms the body-facing surface of thebody liner, the top sheet may be configured to have an increasedcoefficient of friction such as described above (e.g., the body-facingside of the single liner layer may be formed from a material have a highfree-fiber index, may be roughened/textured, and/or may include one ormore friction-increasing coatings).

In some instances, it may be desirable to both maximize slip betweenopposing portions of the rear surface of a body liner and minimize slipbetween the body-facing surface of the body liner and the skin of awearer. In some variations, the body-facing surface of a body liner mayhave a coefficient of friction larger than a coefficient of friction ofthe rear surface of the body liner. The body-facing surface and rearsurface may have any suitable coefficients of frictions, such asdescribed immediately above. For example, in some variations the bodyliner may have a body-facing surface having a coefficient of frictiongreater than about 0.25, and a rear surface having a coefficient of lessthan about 0.15. In some of these variations, the body-facing surfacepreferably has a coefficient of friction greater than about 0.30, andthe rear surface preferably has a coefficient of friction less thanabout 0.1. The coefficient of friction of each surface of the body linermay be altered based on the materials, polishing or texturing, and/orfriction-altering coatings such as described immediately above.

In variations where the body liner comprises a single liner layer, abody-facing side of the liner layer may form the body-facing surface ofthe body liner while a rear side of the liner layer may form the rearsurface of the body liner. In some of these variations, the materialsused to form the single liner layer may be altered along the thicknessof the liner layer such that the liner layer may have a free-fiber indexon a body-facing side of the liner layer that is larger than than thefree-fiber index on the rear side of the liner layer. Additionally oralternatively, the body-facing side of the liner layer may roughened ortextured to increase the coefficient of friction of the body-facingsurface of the body liner (e.g., the body-facing side may be formed witha textured pattern, ridges, and/or bumps which may enhance thecoefficient of friction of the body-facing surface). Additionally oralternatively, the rear side of the liner layer may be polished todecrease the coefficient of friction of the rear surface of the bodyliner. Additionally or alternatively, one or more sides of the linerlayer may include a coating which may alter the coefficient of frictionof the body-facing surface and/or the rear surface of the body liner(e.g., the body-facing side may comprise a friction-enhancing coating,the rear side may comprise a friction-reducing coating, combinationsthereof and the like).

In variations where a body liner comprises a plurality of liner layers,the body-facing surface of the body liner may be formed by portions ofthe rear sides of some or all of the liner layers, such as described inmore detail above. Similarly, the rear surface of the body liner may beformed by portions of the rear sides of some or all of the liner layers.In these variations, the body-facing surface and/or the rear surface ofthe body liner configured in any manner as described above to achieve alarger coefficient of friction in the body-facing surface of the bodyliner than the rear surface. For example, in some variations in which abody liner comprises a top sheet and a back sheet, a body-facing side ofthe top sheet may form the body-facing surface of the body liner, and arear side of the back sheet may form the rear surface of the body liner.In these variations, the back sheet may be configured to have a lowercoefficient of friction than the top sheet. For example, the back sheetmay be formed from a material or materials having a lower free-fiberindex than the material or materials forming the top sheet. In some ofthese variations, or in variations in which the top sheet and back sheetare formed from the same material or materials, the back sheet may bepolished and/or may comprise one or more friction-reducing coatings,such as described in more detail above. Additionally or alternatively,the top sheet may be roughened or texture and/or may comprise one ormore friction-enhancing coatings, such as described in more detailabove.

As mentioned above, the body liners may comprise one or more adhesiveregions, which may help to hold the body liner in place relative to bodytissue. When a body liner is placed within the intergluteal cleft,differential motion of the buttocks during movement (e.g., walking) mayhave a tendency to drive the body liner out of the intergluteal cleft.Additionally, when a wearer sits (e.g., to urinate), squats, orotherwise moves in a manner that separates the buttocks, gravity may actto pull a body liner from the intergluteal cleft. Accordingly, when abody liner comprises one or more adhesive regions, the adhesive regionsmay be configured to adhere the body liner to the skin of the buttocks.The adherence provided by the adhesive regions may help prevent movementbetween the body liner and the buttocks during wearer movement, and maysuspend the body liner against gravitational forces when the buttocksare separated. Thus, when a wearer sits down on a toilet, the body linermay be retained in place, which may allow the wearer to urinate withoutdislodgement of the body liner.

Generally, the adhesive regions described may comprise one or moreadherent materials which may applied to one or more surfaces of the bodyliner. The adherent materials may be any suitable skin-safe material. Insome variations, the adhesive regions may comprise one or moreadhesives. In some of these variations, the adhesive regions maycomprise a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The pressure-sensitive adhesivemay include an acrylic adhesive (such as, for example, 3M™ MSX-6674Cadhesive tape), a rubber adhesive, a silicone adhesive, a polyurethaneadhesive, a polyester adhesive, a polyether adhesive, a hydrogeladhesive, a glycerin or tarpene-based adhesive, combinations thereof andthe like. In some variations, the adhesive regions may comprise one ormore non-adhesive materials that may have a tack that sticks/adheres thebody liner to the tissue. For example, in some variations the adhesiveregions may comprise one or more waxes (e.g., such as a paraffin wax).It should be appreciated that in some instances, an adhesive region mayinclude a combination of two or more adherent materials, such as thosedescribed immediately above.

The adhesive regions may be configured to have any suitable adhesionstrength. It may be desirable to configure the adhesive region to bestrong enough to resist or prevent movement of the body liner duringmovement of the wearer (which may help to maintain a target point of thebody liner at or near the anus), yet not be so strong as to cause painor damage skin when the body liner is peeled off of skin and hair duringremoval of the body liner. For example, in some variations, the adhesiveregions of a body liner may have an adhesion strength between about 5oz/in and about 48 oz/in when bonded to SST. In some variations, theadhesion strength is preferably between about 20 oz/in and about 40oz/in when bonded to SST. In these variations, the adhesion strength mayprovide feedback to a wearer which gives the wearer a sense of securitythat the body liner is securely held in place.

The adhesive regions are generally placed on a body-facing surface ofthe body liner, such that when the body liner is placed in theintergluteal cleft, the adhesive regions are positioned between the bodyliner and the skin of the intergluteal cleft to adhere the body liner tothe wearer's skin. When the body comprises one or more liner layers, theadherent materials of the adhesive region may be applied to any suitableliner layer. For example, in variation in which the body liner comprisesa single liner layer, such as described in more detail above, theadhesive region may be located on a body-facing side of the single linerlayer.

When the body liner comprises multiple liner layers (e.g., a top sheetand a core member and/or back sheet), the adhesive regions of the bodyliner may be located on a body-facing side of some or all of the linerlayers. For example, in some variations, an adhesive region may bepositioned on a body-facing side of a top sheet. In other variations, anadhesive region may be positioned at least partially on a body-facingside of a back sheet. In some of these variations, because the top sheetis generally positioned between the back sheet and the skin of theintergluteal cleft, the top sheet may comprise one or more apertureswhich may expose a portion of a body-facing side of the back sheet. Theadhesive material may be disposed on the exposed portion of thebody-facing side of the back sheet. This may find particular utility ininstances where the back sheet is formed from a strong material than thetop sheet. Because the adhesive region may resist removal of the bodyliner when a wearer pulls on a portion of the body liner, attaching theadhesive region to the stronger back sheet may reduce the likelihoodthat the body liner will rip or tear during body liner removal.

It should be appreciated that an aperture in a top sheet may also exposea portion of a body-facing side of a core member (e.g., in variationswhere the body liner comprises a top sheet, a back sheet, and a coremember). In some of these variations, the exposed portion of the coremember may also be removed such that only the body-facing side of theback sheet is exposed through the aperture in the top sheet. In thesevariations, adhesive material applied in the aperture of the top sheetmay only be applied on the body-facing side of the back sheet. Forexample, FIG. 12A shows a portion of a variation of a body liner (1200)comprising a top sheet (1202) having an aperture (1204) therethrough toexpose a body-facing side of a back sheet (1206). An adhesive material(not shown) may be placed on the back sheet (1206) through the aperture(1204) to form an adhesive region on the back sheet (1206). In others ofthese variations, the portion of the core member exposed through theaperture in the top sheet may be left in place, and adhesive materialplaced through the aperture in the top sheet may be applied to thebody-facing side of the back sheet and the body-facing side of the coremember. For example, FIG. 12B shows a portion of a variation of a bodyliner (1210) comprising a top sheet (1212) having an aperture (1214)therethrough to expose a portion of the body-facing side of a back sheet(1206) and a portion of the body-facing side of a core member (1208). Anadhesive material (not shown) may be placed on both the back sheet(1206) and the core member (1208) to form an adhesive region on the backsheet and core member. In still other variations, an aperture in a topsheet may expose only a portion of a body-facing side of a core member(e.g., in variations in which a body liner comprises a top sheet and acore member, or variations in which a body liner comprises a top sheet,a core member, and back sheet). In these variations, the adhesivematerial may be placed in the aperture to dispose the adhesive materialon the core member. It should be appreciated when an adhesive materialor materials are placed in an aperture in a top sheet to create anadhesive region on a body-facing side of a core member and/or backsheet, the adhesive material or materials may also be applied to the topsheet around the aperture to increase the area of adhesive region beyondthe boundary of the aperture.

The adhesive materials described above may be attached to a body linerin any suitable manner. In some variations, an adhesive tape may beattached to the body liner in the form an adhesive region. For example,3M™ MSX-6674C adhesive tape may include a dual-adhesive tape having anacrylic adhesive on one side of the tape and a synthetic rubber adhesiveon an opposite of the tape. The rubber adhesive may be applied to abody-facing surface of the body liner to attach the adhesive tapethereto and to position the acrylic adhesive to face away from thebody-facing surface of the body liner to allow for adherence to awearer's skin. In other variations, an adhesive may be applied as a hotmelt adhesive. In these variations, the adhesive may be applied the bodyliner at a high temperature, and may form a strong bond with the bodyliner. As the adhesive cools, the tackiness of the adhesive may decreaseto a level suitable for adherence to the skin, such as discussed above.In other variations, an adhesive may be cross-linked into place relativeto the body liner (e.g., by application of heat, ultraviolet and/orionizing energy, combinations thereof and the like).

Generally, the body liner comprises at least one adhesive region on eachside of the longitudinal axis, although it should be appreciated that insome instances, the body liners described here may comprise adhesiveregions only on one side of the longitudinal axis. When the body linercomprises at least one adhesive region on each side of the longitudinalaxis, and the body liner is folded along the longitudinal axis duringplacement of the body liner in the intergluteal cleft, separation of thebuttocks (e.g., during sitting on a toilet) may pull the body liner atthe adhesive regions. This may flatten the body liner between theadhesive regions during separation of the buttocks, which may allowstill allow the body liner to capture leakage from the anus. Theadherence between adhesive regions and the buttocks may suspend the bodyliner, allowing the body liner to remain in place.

The adhesive regions described here may have any suitable size or shape.For example, in some variations, an adhesive region may have a circularor oval shape. FIG. 13A shows a variation of a portion of a body liner(1300) comprising a first adhesive region (1302) on a first side of alongitudinal axis (1304) of the body liner (1300) and a second adhesiveregion (1306) on a second side of the longitudinal axis (1304). As shownthere, the first (1302) and second (1306) adhesive regions may becircular in shape. Also shown there is a lateral axis (1308)perpendicularly intersecting the longitudinal axis (1304) at a targetpoint (1310), such as described in more detail above. The first andsecond adhesive regions are preferably centered on the lateral axis(1308). In some variations, both of the first and second adhesiveregions intersect the lateral axis (1308), but at least one of the firstand second adhesive regions are not centered on the lateral axis (1308).In other variations, one or both of the first and second adhesiveregions do not intersect the lateral axis (1308). FIG. 13B shows avariation of a butterfly-shaped body liner (1380) having first (1302)and second (1306) circular adhesive regions as described with respect toFIG. 13A.

In variations where a body liner comprises a circular adhesive region(such as the first (1302) and second (1306) adhesive regions shown inFIG. 13A), the adhesive region may have any suitable diameter. In somevariations, the adhesive region may have a diameter less than or equalto about 0.65 cm. In other variations, the adhesive region may have adiameter less than or equal to about 1.3 cm. While shown in FIG. 13A ashaving two circular adhesive regions (one on each side of thelongitudinal axis (1304)), it should be appreciated that the body linermay include one or more additional adhesive regions, which may have anyshape or shapes such as described hereinthroughout.

In some variations, one or both of first (1302) and second (1306)adhesive regions may have an oval shape. In these variations, an ovaladhesive region may be oriented in any suitable manner relative to thelongitudinal (1304) and lateral (1308) axes. In some variations, a majoraxis of an oval adhesive region may be parallel to the longitudinal axis(1304). In other variations, the major axis of the oval adhesive regionmay be angled relative to the longitudinal axis. In some of thesevariations, the major axis of the oval adhesive region may beperpendicular to the longitudinal axis (1304) (i.e., the major axis ofthe oval adhesive region may parallel to the lateral axis (1308)). Invariations of the body liners described here that include an ovaladhesive region, the oval adhesive region may have any suitabledimensions. For example, in some variations, an oval adhesive region mayhave a minor axis less than or equal to about 1.3 cm. In some of thesevariations, the minor axis may be less than or equal to about 0.65 cm.In some variations, the oval adhesive region may have a major axis thatis less than or equal to about 3.8 cm. In some of these variations, themajor axis may be less than or equal to about 3.2 cm.

In some variations, the body liners described here may comprise one ormore adhesive regions that have a substantially rectangular shape. Forexample, FIG. 14 shows a variation of a portion of a body liner (1400)comprising a first adhesive region (1402) on a first side of alongitudinal axis (1404) of the body liner (1400) and a second adhesiveregion (1406) on a second side of the longitudinal axis (1404). As shownthere, the first (1402) and second (1406) adhesive regions may berectangular in shape (although it should be appreciated that theadhesive regions may have rounded corners as shown in FIG. 14. Alsoshown there is a lateral axis (1408) perpendicularly intersecting thelongitudinal axis (1404) at a target point (1410), such as described inmore detail above. The first and second adhesive regions are preferablycentered on the lateral axis (1408). In some variations, both of thefirst and second adhesive regions intersect the lateral axis (1408), butat least one of the first and second adhesive regions are not centeredon the lateral axis (1408). In other variations, one or both of thefirst and second adhesive regions do not intersect the lateral axis(1408).

The rectangular adhesive region may have a height (1412) along thelongitudinal axis (1404) and a width (1414) along the lateral axis(1408). In the variation shown in FIG. 14, height (1412) may greaterthan its width (1414). These variations may find particular utility invariations where the height of the body liner along the longitudinalaxis (1404) is greater than the width of the body liner (1408) along thelateral axis (1408). When the height (1412) is greater than the width(1414), the rectangular adhesive region may have any suitableheight-to-width ratio. For example, in some variations a rectangularadhesive region may have a height-to-width ratio that is at least about1.1. In some of these variations, height-to-width ratio is at leastabout 2.5. In some of these variations, height-to-width ratio is atleast about 5. In some variations, the width (1414) and height (1412)may be about 0.65 cm and about 3.2 cm respectively. In other variations,the width (1414) and height (1412) may be about 1.3 cm and about 3.2 cmrespectively. In still other variations, the width (1414) and height(1412) may be about 0.95 cm and about 3.5 cm respectively.

In other variations, a rectangular adhesive region may have a height(1412) equal to its width (1414) (i.e., is square shaped). In stillother variations, a rectangular adhesive region may have a width (1414)greater than its height (1412). These variations may find particularutility in variations where the body liner (1400) has a width along thelateral axis (1408) greater than a height along the longitudinal axis(1404). When the height (1412) is greater than the width (1414), therectangular adhesive region may have any suitable width-to-height ratio.For example, in some variations a rectangular adhesive region may have awidth-to-height ratio that is at least about 1.1. In some of thesevariations, width-to-height ratio is at least about 2.5. In some ofthese variations, width-to-height ratio is at least about 5. In somevariations, the height (1412) and width (1414) may be about 0.65 cm andabout 3.2 cm respectively. In other variations, the height (1412) andwidth (1414) may be about 1.3 cm and about 3.2 cm respectively. In stillother variations, the height (1412) and width (1414) may be about 0.95cm and about 3.5 cm respectively.

In some variations, an adhesive region may have a shape that is an arcsegment, which may be an arc segment of an oval or a circle. FIG. 17Ashows a variation of a portion of a body liner (1700) comprising a firstadhesive region (1702) on a first side of a longitudinal axis (1704) ofthe body liner (1700) and a second adhesive region (1706) on a secondside of the longitudinal axis (1704). Also shown there is a lateral axis(1708) perpendicularly intersecting the longitudinal axis (1704) at atarget point (1710), such as described in more detail above. As shownthere, each of the first (1702) and second (1706) adhesive regions maybe an arc segment having an inner radius of curvature (1712), an outerradius of curvature (1714), and a thickness (1716). In some variations,the target point (1710) may be the center of curvature of the innerradius of curvature, the outer radius of curvature, or both the innerand outer radii of curvature. The thickness (1716) may be any suitablevalue, such as for example, about 0.65 cm, about 0.95 cm, or the like.Additionally, the arc segment of the first and second adhesive regionsmay be subtend any angle of the circle and/or oval. In some variations,the arc segment may subtend an angle less than 180 degrees. In some ofthese variations, the arc segment may subtend an angle less than 135degrees. In some of these variations, the arc may subtend an angle lessthan 90 degrees. In some of these variations, the arc may subtend anangle less than 45 degrees. Additionally, in some variations, the innerradius of curvature may be at least about 1 cm, and the outer radius ofcurvature may be less than or equal to about 5 cm. FIG. 17B shows avariation of a butterfly-shaped body liner (1780) having first (1702)and second (1706) adhesive regions as described above with respect toFIG. 17A. Additionally, while shown in FIG. 17B as curving toward thetarget point (1710), it should be appreciated that one or both of theadhesive regions may curve away from the target point (1710). Forexample, FIG. 17C shows a variation of a body liner (1781) having first(1784) and second (1786) arc-shaped adhesive regions, wherein theadhesive regions curve away from the target point (1710).

When the body liners described here comprise one or more adhesiveregions, such as those described immediately above, it may be desirableto limit the placement of the adhesive regions relative to a targetpoint on the body liner and/or the longitudinal and lateral axes of thebody liner. For example, the skin immediately surrounding the anus ishighly innervated, such that placement of an adhesive on this skin maycause unnecessary pain or discomfort. Accordingly it may be desirable tospace any adhesive regions a minimum distance away from a target pointwhich will placed at or near the anus. For example, in some variations,the adhesive regions of the body liner may each be spaced at least 1 cmfrom a target point of the body liner.

Additionally or alternatively, it may be desirable to configure a bodyliner that such that any adhesive regions are positioned within acertain distance of the target point. For example, it may be desirableto ensure that the adhesive regions are within the intergluteal cleftwhen the target point is positioned at or near the anus. Additionally,placing the adhesive region closer to the anus will reduce the movementof the adhesive regions during movement of the body liner, since thebuttocks tend to move more relative the anus closer to the anus than theedge of the intergluteal cleft. For example, in some variations each ofthe adhesive regions of a body liner may be positioned within about 5.1cm from the target point. In some of these variations, each of theadhesive regions of the body liner may be positioned within about 3.5 cmfrom the target point. In some of these variations, each of the adhesiveregions of the body liner may be positioned within about 3.2 cm from thetarget point.

Additionally or alternatively, it may be desirable to configure the bodyliner such that any adhesive regions do not cross the longitudinal axisof the body liner. This may allow the body liner to fold and flattenwhen the wearer stands and sits, respectively. In some variations, eachof the adhesive regions may be positioned such that they are spaced atleast 0.65 cm from the longitudinal axis. In some of these variations,each of the adhesive regions may be position such they are spaced atleast 1 cm from the longitudinal axis.

In some variations, some or all of the above placement locationsdescribed above may be combined to define one or more adhesive zones. Inthese variations, the body liner may be configured such that anyadhesive zones of the body liner are positioned within the adhesive zone(e.g., there are no adhesive regions outside of the adhesive zones). Forexample, FIG. 18A shows a portion of a variation of a body liner (1800)having a longitudinal axis (1802) and a lateral axis (1804)perpendicularly intersecting the longitudinal axis (1802) at a targetpoint (1806). Further shown there are a first adhesive zone (1808) on afirst side of the longitudinal axis (1802) and a second adhesive zone(1810) on a second side of the longitudinal axis (1806). As shown there,the first and second adhesive zones may have a shape of an arc segmenthaving an inner curve (1811) and an outer curve (1812), and may bepositioned a distance (1814) away from the longitudinal axis (1806). Thetarget point (1806) may be the center of curvature of the inner curve(1811) and the outer curve (1812). The radius of curvature of the outercurve (1812) may represent the outer boundary in which the adhesiveregions may be located, and may be any suitable value. In somevariations, radius of the curvature of the outer curve (1812) may beless than or equal to about 5.1 cm. In other variations, radius of thecurvature of the outer curve (1812) may be less than or equal to about3.5 cm. In still other variations, radius of the curvature of the outercurve (1812) may be less than or equal to about 3.2 cm. Similarly, theradius of curvature of the inner curve (1811) may represent the innerboundary of placement of the adhesive regions, and may have any suitablevalue. In some variations, the radius of curvature of the inner curve(1811) may be at least about 1 cm. The distance (1814) between theadhesive zones and the longitudinal axis (1802) may be any suitablevalue. In some variations, the distance (1814) may be at least 0.65 cm.In some of these variations, the adhesive may be at least about 1 cm.FIG. 18B shows a variation of a butterfly-shaped body liner (1880)having first (1808) and second (1810) adhesive zones such as describedwith respect to FIG. 18A.

Fold Lines

When the body liners described here are folded along a longitudinal axisto place the body liner at least partially within the interglutealcleft, it may be desirable to configure the body liner to promotefolding along the longitudinal axis. In some variations, it may bedesirable to increase the rigidity of the body liner along alongitudinal axis of the body liner. By increasing the rigidity of alongthe longitudinal axis, the body liner is more likely to fold along thelongitudinal axis rather than across or at an angle to the longitudinalaxis. Additionally, increasing the rigidity of the longitudinal axis ofthe may facilitate placement of the body liner within the interglutealcleft. When a wearer uses one or more fingers to push the body linerwithin the intergluteal cleft, force applied to a portion of thelongitudinal axis may be transmitted along the rigid longitudinal axis,which may help to push the longitudinal axis closer to the base of theintergluteal cleft.

Preferential folding along the longitudinal axis may be achieved in anysuitable manner. In some variations, the body liner may be scored orcrushed along the longitudinal axis. For example, FIG. 16A shows avariation of a body liner (1600) having a score line (1602) along alongitudinal axis (1604) in which the material forming the body liner(1600) has been scored. In other variations, the score line (1602) maybe replaced with a crush line along the longitudinal axis, in which thematerial forming the body liner is crushed or otherwise compressed alongthe longitudinal axis. In still other variations, a body liner maycomprise both a crush line and a score line. While shown in FIG. 16A ashaving a single crush line (1602), the body liner (1600) may have anysuitable number of score and/or crush lines (e.g., one, two, or three ormore score or crush lines). For example, FIG. 16B shows anothervariation of body liner (1606) comprising three score lines (1608) alonga longitudinal axis (1610) of the body liner (1606). In thesevariations, scoring and/or crushing on either side of the longitudinalaxis may open up a portion of the body liner to face the anus whenplaced in the intergluteal cleft. In some instances it may be desirableto limit the width of scoring and/or crushing to the width of the anus,as a larger width may result in bunching of the body liner ordiscomfort.

Barrier Members

When the body liners described here are placed in the interglutealcleft, and an anal leakage load contacts the body liner, gravity mayhave a tendency to pull the leakage in a downward direction. If the bodyliner is not able to immobilize the fluid quickly enough (e.g., viafluid absorption to dewater the leakage), the load of anal leakage maytravel along the body liner toward the front of the liner, and may flowoff the front of the liner, thereby creating a soiling issue.Accordingly, in some variations the body liners described here may beconfigured to have one or more features which may help to restrict,slow, or otherwise prevent flow of a leakage load toward the front ofthe body liner.

For example, in some variations, the body liner may comprise a barrierelement. For example, FIG. 15A shows a variation of a body liner (1500)comprising a first barrier element (1502) and a second barrier element(1504). It should be appreciated that although shown in FIG. 15A ashaving both a first barrier element (1502) and a second barrier element(1504), the body liners described here may comprise one barrier element(e.g., either barrier element (1502), barrier element (1504), or anothersuitable barrier element), or may comprise three or more barrierelements.

When the body liners described here include a barrier element, thebarrier element may form a raised portion of the body liner, andtypically extend away from a body-facing side of the body liner. Thebarrier element provide a barrier to fluid flow as fluid moves relativeto the body liner (e.g., when gravity pulls fluid toward the front ofthe body liner), which may give the body liner more time to absorb theanal leakage. Additionally, in some variations, the barrier element maybe formed from one or more fluid-absorbent materials, such as thematerials described in more detail above. In these variations, whenfluid contacts the barrier element, the barrier element may provide aphysical barrier to fluid flow and may additionally absorb some or allof the fluid sample.

The barrier element may have any suitable size or shape. For example, insome variations, the barrier element may be shaped as a bar, a curvedlip, or the like. For example, in the variation of body liner (1500)shown in FIG. 15A, the first barrier element (1502) may comprise acurved lip which may extend from a body-facing surface (1506) of thebody liner (1500). In some variations, the width of the first barrierelement (1502) may taper as the barrier element (1502) extends away fromthe body liner (1500). Also shown in FIG. 15A, the second barrierelement (1504) may comprise a bar structure which may extend from thebody-facing surface (1506). In some variations, the width of the secondbarrier element (1504) may taper as the barrier element (1504) extendsaway from the body liner (1500).

While the first (1502) and second (1504) barrier elements shown in FIG.15A are shown as attached to the body-facing surface (1506) of the bodyliner (1500), it should be appreciated that a barrier element may beconnected to a body liner in any suitable manner. For example, invariations where a body liner comprises two or more liner layers, one ormore barrier elements may be positioned between two or more linerlayers. For example, in variations where a body liner comprises a topsheet, a back sheet, and a core member positioned between the top sheetand the back sheet, a barrier may be positioned between the top sheetand the back sheet. In some instances, the barrier may also bepositioned between the top sheet and the core member or may bepositioned between the core member and the back sheet. In still othervariations, the barrier element may be integrally formed with a linerlayer of the body liner. In these variations, the thickness of the linerlayer may be increased at a portion thereof to form a barrier element.Any suitable liner layer of a body liner (e.g., a top sheet, a backsheet, a core member, or the like) may be formed with a barrier element.

When a body liner comprises one or more barrier element such asdescribed immediately above, the barrier elements may be positioned atany suitable location relative to the body liner. In some variations,one or more barrier elements may be positioned frontward of a targetpoint on the body liner. In these variations, when the target point ispositioned at or near the anus, such as described hereinthroughout, theone or more barrier elements may be positioned closer to the front ofthe body. In some instances, the barrier elements may contact orotherwise press against the skin of the wearer between the anus and thegenitals (i.e., the scrotum or the vagina). This contact may providetactile feedback to the wearer, which may provide the wearer with asense of security, and may further provide an indication that the bodyliner is properly positioned. Positioning a barrier element frontward ofthe anus may help stop downward and frontward movement of anal leakagewhen the wearer is upright. For example, FIG. 15B shows the body liner(1500) described above with respect to FIG. 15A positioned at leastpartially in the intergluteal cleft (1508) to position a target point(1510) of the body liner (1500) at or near the anus (1512). Since thefirst (1502) and second (1504) barrier members are positioned forward ofthe target point (1510), the first (1502) and second (1504) barriermembers may be positioned between the anus (1512) and the genitals(1514). In some variations, one or more barrier elements may positionedrearward of the target point. In these variations, when the target pointis positioned at or near the anus, the one or more barrier elementspositioned rearward of the target point may help stop rearward movementof fluid of anal leakage that may occur if the wearer is prone.

Placement Aids

In some variations, the body liner may be configured to assist a wearerin placing the body liner at least partially within the interglutealcleft. For example, in some variations where a body liner comprises atop sheet, a back sheet, and a core member positioned therebetween, thebody liner may be configured such that the contours of the core membermay be visible through the top sheet and/or back sheet. For example, insome variations the top sheet and/or the back sheet may be configuredsuch that the core member may be at least partially visualizedtherethrough, such that the core member may be visually located. In somevariations, the core member may be colored, which may contribute tovisual location of the core member. Additionally or alternatively, thethickness of the core member between the top sheet and back sheet maycreate variations in the thickness of the body liner which allow forvisual location of the core member. When a wearer is placing a bodyliner with a visually-locatable core member, the wearer may place one ormore fingers on the core member, and may advance the body liner memberinto the intergluteal cleft. If the wearer advances his or her fingerstoward the anus, the wearer may center the core member around the anusto position a target point at or near the anus in a blind manner (e.g.,does not require direct visualization of the body liner placement).

In some variations, the body liner may comprise one or more markingswhich may indicate a target point of the body liner. For example, insome variations a rear surface of the body liner may comprise an arrowpointing to toward a target point of the body liner. In othervariations, the rear surface of the body liner may comprise cross-hairs,a bulls-eye, or another shape that may be centered on a target point ofthe body liner. In still other variations, one or more patterns may beembossed in the rear surface of the body liner which may indicate atarget point on the body liner. In the above variations, the wearer mayplace one or more fingers on the target point (as indicated by themarkings and/or embossed patterns), and may advance the body liner intothe intergluteal cleft to position the target point at or near the anus.

In still other variations, the body liner may comprise one or morebarrier members or one or more crimped zones, such as described in moredetail above, one or more barrier members or crimped zones may bepositioned to provide tactile feedback to the wearer to indicate properplacement of the body liner. For example, when the body liner is placedat least partially within the intergluteal cleft, one or more barriermembers or crimped zones may contact the skin of the wearer between theanus and the genitals, and may feedback that the body liner is properlyplaced.

Substance Delivery

In some variations, the body liner may comprise one or more compounds orcompositions. In some variations, the body liner may comprise one ormore lotions or skin care compositions. Additionally or alternatively,the body liner may comprise one or more drugs are active agents (e.g.,aloe, glycerin, a silicon oil such as polydimehtylsiloxane, combinationsthereof and the like) which may be delivered to the skin of the wearer(e.g., via the skin-facing surface of the body liner). Additionally oralternatively, the body liner may comprise one or more anti-odorcompounds which may minimize the odors associated with an incidence ofABL.

Packaging

The body liners described here may be packaged in any suitable manner.For example, in some variations, a body liner may be packaged in a pouchor container. In some instances, the body liners may be individuallypackaged (i.e., one body liner per pouch/container). In othervariations, multiple body liners may be packaged together. For example,in some variations multiple body liners may be packaged within aresealable container, such that individual body liners may be removed asneeded.

As mentioned above, the body liners described here may be packaged witha release liner. The release liner may be temporarily attached to a bodyliner via one or more adhesive regions of the body liner. The releaseliner may be the same shape as or may be a different shape from the bodyliner. The release liner may be configured as a single piece, or may beconfigured as two or more separate pieces.

In some variations, the body liners may be packaged without a releaseliner. In some of these variations, a portion of the packaging may actas a release liner. Specifically, in some variations a body liner havingone or more adhesive regions may be releasably attached to one or moreportions of the packaging via one or more of the adhesive regions. Inthese variations, the packaging may be opened to provide access to thebody liner, and the body liner may be peeled or otherwise removed fromthe packaging to reveal the adhesive regions.

The body liners described here may be provided in a merchandising array.The array may comprise a sequence of body liner configurations for usershaving different physical characteristics. The physical characteristicsmay be any suitable characteristic, such as, for example, waist size,dress size, or underwear size. The array may comprise a first sequenceof body liner configurations for female users. Additionally oralternatively, the array may comprise a second sequence of body linerconfigurations for male users. Each body liner configuration may have anindicia (pictorial and/or text based) disposed on the packaging toidentify the intended user of that specific body liner configuration.Consumers may use the indicia to select an appropriate body linerconfiguration for their needs.

Generally, the sequence of body liner configurations comprises bodyliners having different sizes. As mentioned above, it may be desirablefor the body liner to at least partially extend from the interglutealcleft when the body liner is positioned therein. As such, as the size ofa user's intergluteal cleft changes, the size of the body liner may bealtered accordingly to provide for a retrieval portion of the bodyliner. Because the size of intergluteal cleft may be at least partiallydependent on one or more physical characteristics of a user, such as theuser's dress size, waste size, and/or underwear size, providingdifferent sized body liners for users having different dress, waste,and/or underwear sizes may allow a user to select a body liner that willbe properly sized for that user. For example, in some variations asequence of body liner configurations may comprise a first body linerconfiguration for users having a first range of dress sizes and a secondbody liner configuration for users having a second range of dress sizes.For example, the first range of dress sizes may be dress size 12 or lessand the second range of dress sizes may be dress size greater than 12,and the first body liner configuration may have a first size and asecond body liner configuration may have a second size. In othervariations, a sequence of body liner configurations may comprise a firstbody liner configuration for users having a first range of waist sizesand a second body liner configuration for users having a second range ofwaist sizes. In some of these variations, the array may comprisesequences of body liner configurations for both male and female users.For example, an array may have a first body liner configuration for maleusers having a first range of waist sizes and a second body linerconfiguration for male users having a second range of waist sizes, athird body liner configuration for female users having a third range ofwaist sizes, and a fourth body liner configuration for female usershaving a fourth range of waist sizes. In yet other variations, the arraymay comprise a sequence of body liners having a first body linerconfiguration for users having a first underwear size and a second bodyliner configuration for users having a second underwear size. Thesequence may further comprise a third body liner configuration for usershaving a third underwear size.

Methods

As mentioned above, the body liners described here may be used to fecalincontinence. Generally, the methods described here may comprise placingone of the body liners described above at least partially in theintergluteal cleft. In some variations, placing a body liner at leastpartially in the intergluteal cleft may comprise folding the body lineralong the longitudinal axis, and may comprise positioning a target pointat or near the anus. In some of these variations, it may be desirable toplace the target point within about 2 cm of the anus.

In some variations, placing the body liner at least partially within theintergluteal cleft may comprise positioning the body liner such that atleast a portion of the body liner extends out of the intergluteal cleft.In some of these variations, at least a portion of the body liner thatextends out of the intergluteal cleft may extend at least about 1 cm ofthe intergluteal cleft. In some variations, the body liner may be placedsuch that at least a portion of the body liner extends out of theintergluteal cleft, and such that any portion extending out of theintergluteal cleft extends out of the intergluteal cleft less than about2.5 cm.

In some variations, placing the body liner at least partially within theintergluteal cleft may comprise placing a body-facing surface of thebody liner in contact with the skin of the buttocks. In some of thesevariations, the body liner may comprise one or more adhesive regions onthe body-facing surface of the body liner, and wherein placing thebody-facing surface of the body liner in contact with the skin of thebuttocks may comprise adhering the body-facing surface to skin of thebuttocks via the one or more adhesive regions. The adhesive regions maybe any suitable adhesive regions, such as described in more detailabove.

What is claimed is:
 1. A device for treating accidental bowel leakagecomprising: a body liner sized and configured to be placed at leastpartially within the intergluteal cleft, the body liner having alongitudinal axis, a body-facing surface and a rear surface opposite thebody-facing surface, wherein the body liner comprises at least oneadhesive region on the body-facing surface of the body liner, whereinthe body liner is formed from a plurality of liquid absorbent linerlayers including a top sheet, a back sheet, and a core member, andwherein the top sheet has a shape comprising a first lobe on a firstside of the longitudinal axis and a second lobe on a second side of thelongitudinal axis.
 2. The device of claim 1 wherein the core member iscircular or oval.
 3. The device of claim 1 wherein the back sheet has ashape that is the same as the shape of the top sheet.
 4. The device ofclaim 1 wherein the back sheet and the top sheet are at least partiallybonded together.
 5. The device of claim 4, wherein the back sheet andtop sheet are bonded together around a periphery of the top sheet. 6.The method of claim 5, wherein the back sheet and top sheet are bondedtogether such that at least 80 percent of the top sheet remainsunbonded.
 7. The device of claim 1 wherein the top sheet is configuredto move fluid within the top sheet at a first wicking rate in a firstdirection, a second wicking rate in a second direction, and a thirdwicking rate in a third direction, wherein first and second directionsare within a plane of the body liner, the first direction isperpendicular to the second direction, and the third direction isperpendicular to the plane of the body liner, and wherein the top sheetis configured such that the third wicking rate in the top sheet isgreater than the first and second wicking rates in the top sheet.
 8. Thedevice of claim 7 wherein the top sheet is configured such that thefirst wicking rate in the top sheet is greater than the second wickingrate in the top sheet.
 9. The device of claim 8 wherein the firstdirection is parallel to the longitudinal axis.
 10. The device of claim1 wherein the body liner is configured to be flushable.
 11. The deviceof claim 10 wherein at least 90 percent of the body liner is formed fromone or more biodegradable materials.
 12. The device of claim 1 whereinthe shape of the top sheet further comprises a third lobe on the firstside of the longitudinal axis and a fourth lobe on the second side ofthe longitudinal axis.